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
Relevance
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
Adjective
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In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026 -
As scientists often find darkened teeth in ancient burials, other factors can contribute to a black appearance, notably the chewing of betel leaves.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Sunscreen protects against sun damage, premature aging and dark spots.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
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Harden, 36, with his famous, protruding beard and those dark, piercing eyes, was determined to use his star power to get his way, to bring with him a slice of comfort to a new city.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The meaning of the messages is murky.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Season 3 leaps forward five years, aging its characters out of high school and into a much murkier version of adulthood.—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Inside Safe providers acknowledged that motel rooms can be a huge adjustment, leaving people feeling lonely and isolated.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Days can feel long and lonely after one retires.—
Cathy Bussewitz,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Thick black smoke rose near the city's Azadi Square after one airstrike hit the grounds of the Sharif University of Technology.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Another target was Dario Amodei, a biophysicist and a font of frenetic energy who has a tendency to nervously twist his black hair, and responds to one-line e-mails with multi-paragraph essays.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That’s partly because their bleak ending feels like a foregone conclusion from the start, even as Levinson’s frequently funny script crackles with comic depravity.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
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While the subject matter is bleak, Almodóvar balances the darkness with a tenderness and sensitivity that comes from a career of exploring women's lives at their most intimate.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Sam Levinson’s vision of a woman’s life is pretty depressing.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
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In his teaching, Weil conveyed his love for Russian literature’s very lengthy — and at times dark and depressing — novels with enthusiasm and aplomb, colleagues recalled.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But just beneath the surface lies a somber discussion about the most famous man in the sport, who is a long way from here.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
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On its face, this has felt like an Easter season more in keeping with the downcast mood of Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper, followed by the betrayal and arrest of Christ, or Good Friday, a somber day of reflection marking Jesus’ death on the cross.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Tenebrific.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenebrific. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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