: the quality or state of being dark: such as
a
: the total or near total absence of light
There was almost no light when he opened his eyes again. The darkness of night was thick and for a moment he began to panic again.—
Gary Paulsen
Gary Paulsen
b(1)
: the quality of being dark in shade or color
the darkness of the old wooden floor
the darkness of these blues and greens
: dark color or colors
In O'Donnell's paintings, darkness pre-dominates. If there are bright colors, they are painted over a deep-hued ground.—Richard Kalina
Richard Kalina
(2)
: the quality of being dark in complexion
Few people know the isolation Owens endured during his childhood in Alexander City, Ala. Other kids teased him mercilessly for the darkness of his skin and his beanpole physique.—Jeffri Chadiha
Jeffri Chadiha
c(1)
: a gloomy or depressed state or tone
I'm not suicidal, clinically depressed, or bipolar, but I am subject to mood swings. … I've tried a number of different mental techniques, mostly prayer, visualization, and meditation, but nothing has worked to lighten my darkness.—Will Manley
Will ManleyAnd the other darkness was a tremendous sorrow, a deep sadness that her mother was dead and that the princess could, now, only talk to her in her dreams.—Kate DiCamillo
Kate DiCamilloWhat, I wondered, did the good man of the cloth make of the reckless humor, the anger and the darkness of those late works?—Russell Banks
Russell Banks
(2)
: evil
From the same source he drew the picture of a heavenly visitor, a god who comes to earth to impart true knowledge … and save humanity from the powers of darkness.—J. Louis Martyn
J. Louis Martyn
(3)
: a lack of knowledge or enlightenment
In 1492, the intellectual darkness that shrouded Europe for centuries was slowly, almost grudgingly lifting.—Bob Fisher
Bob FisherExamples of darkness in a Sentence
the raiding party snuck up under cover of darkness
the darkness of certain passages in the Book of Revelation
let's wait for darkness before telling ghost stories
the darkness of that period of my life is best forgotten
Recent Examples on the Web
The autumn equinox marks a pivotal moment in the year, when the hours of daylight and darkness fall into perfect symmetry, offering a moment of cosmic balance.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2025
Frederick Anderson traded last season’s darkness for light with a Spring 2026 collection inspired by global escapes, vibrant color, and airy fabrics that embodied joy and wanderlust.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
Pricing can vary depending on the darkness of the tint and type of film used to tint the windows.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Sep. 2025
The darkness also conceals crustaceans and other macroinvertebrates that the cavefish can prey on.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for darkness
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.
Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2025
Frederick Anderson traded last season’s darkness for light with a Spring 2026 collection inspired by global escapes, vibrant color, and airy fabrics that embodied joy and wanderlust.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
Pricing can vary depending on the darkness of the tint and type of film used to tint the windows.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Sep. 2025
The darkness also conceals crustaceans and other macroinvertebrates that the cavefish can prey on.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for darkness
Cite this Entry
“Darkness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/darkness. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share