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tenebrific

adjective

ˌte-nə-ˈbri-fik How to pronounce tenebrific (audio)
Definition of tenebrificnext
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light a man unexpectedly emerged from the tenebrific shadows of the cave

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer soldiers who had lived for months in the tenebrific trenches that stretched along the western front

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenebrific
  1. darkened
  2. dark
  3. murky
  4. lonely
  5. black
  6. bleak
  7. depressing
  8. somber
Adjective
  • Around them stand darkened houses, and uncollected trash piles up on the street.
    — Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
  • This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • Beaches emptied out and dark clouds swirled above choppy seas, while Mexican authorities temporarily suspended classes in a number of areas on Tuesday.
    — DESIREE BROOKS, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Set against these dark parts of the educational system, Lee convincingly casts hagwons as third spaces that advance the hopes of an entire community.
    — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • Light takes on an ethereal glow and colors blend into murky browns and blacks.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
  • But that failed, too, leaving a murky path for Henderson, whose cancer was so rare the World Health Organization had only given it a name in 2021.
    — Arthur Allen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of murky
Adjective
  • If the rumors are true, the M6 could end up being a lonely chip.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026
  • No one should have to endure a procedure as unsafe as hers, yet even safety doesn’t always guarantee respite from fear, pain, and grief—feelings that one-note sloganeering about empowerment relegate to a lonely darkness.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of lonely
Adjective
  • Madonna then descended the stairs and removed her coat to reveal a red-and-black corset as dancers lifted her onto a table that rolled around a choir in the audience wearing white veils.
    — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In addition to this trendy cherry red, there are more colors to peruse including classic black, soft pale blue, approachable gray, and more.
    — Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of black
Adjective
  • Shane Beamer's future looks bleak after Gamecocks blew a 16-0 lead against Mississippi State and lost their sixth straight SEC game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • In this rain and stiff wind, under a dark sky, from one bleak port to another.
    — Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • Having too many Titans on your fantasy roster is just depressing.
    — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Don’t be put off by the alarming title; this book approaches our ominous political landscape with an eye to diagnosing, not depressing.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • Many social media users suggested Pearman may have missed the point of the somber experience of visiting a living memorial where one of history’s greatest atrocities occurred.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • On Thursday, members of The Times editorial staff gathered to celebrate Swed, but the mood was somewhat somber.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of somber
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

tend (to)
tenebrific
tenebrous
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Cite this Entry

“Tenebrific.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenebrific. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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