dark 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdärk How to pronounce dark (audio)
Definition of darknext
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light a dark alley that most people wisely avoided

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2
as in black
not having a light complexion he was tall, dark, and handsome

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3
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer her mind was filled with dark thoughts until the results of the medical test came back as negative

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4
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge the actor was always quite dark about his life before his arrival in Hollywood

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5
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the superhero was not daunted by the villain's dark threats

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6
as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books is known as a dark period in European history when people lived in ignorance, fear, and want

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7
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable dark deeds that resulted in the Russian czar being known to history as Ivan the Terrible

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dark

2 of 2

noun

1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light I have a bad habit of running into tables in the dark

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2
as in night
the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight we were going to wait until dark to go trick-or-treating

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word dark different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of dark are ambiguous, cryptic, enigmatic, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

In what contexts can ambiguous take the place of dark?

The meanings of ambiguous and dark largely overlap; however, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

When might cryptic be a better fit than dark?

While in some cases nearly identical to dark, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

When could enigmatic be used to replace dark?

The synonyms enigmatic and dark are sometimes interchangeable, but enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

When can equivocal be used instead of dark?

The words equivocal and dark are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

When is obscure a more appropriate choice than dark?

In some situations, the words obscure and dark are roughly equivalent. However, obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

When would vague be a good substitute for dark?

While the synonyms vague and dark are close in meaning, vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dark
Adjective
In the Short Film Competition, the top Cristal prize went to French director Pierre-Luc Granjon’s The Night Boots, which also won the Audience Award, while U.S. director Michael Granberry’s dark stop-motion work Les Bêtes won the Jury Prize in the section. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 June 2025 According to witnesses, one of the men allegedly wore an orange jacket with a black helmet and the other wore a green jacket with a dark helmet and a dark mask. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 14 June 2025
Noun
Maryland Stadium Authority taking on more fiscal responsibility at Pimlico Race Course ‘Hands tied’: Athletes left in dark as NCAA settlement leaves murky future for non-revenue sports Justify doing it in 2018 to give the sport a pair of Triple Crown champions in four years quieted that talk. —Stephen Whyno, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2025 And although California dealt with brief rolling blackouts during an August 2020 heat wave, the power grid has been remarkably stable the last few years, thanks in part to an influx of large-scale, lithium-ion batteries that store solar energy for after dark. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
  1. black
  2. bleak
  3. silent
  4. ambiguous
  5. ignorant
  6. evil
  7. night
  8. murky
Adjective
  • Travis Decker description Police described Travis Decker as a white man with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5'8'', and weighing 190 pounds.
    — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 7 June 2025
  • Decker is described as 5 feet, 8 inches, tall and 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
    — Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 6 June 2025
Definition of black
Adjective
  • The somewhat bleak outlook was laid bare Tuesday night after the USMNT was thrashed 4-0 by Switzerland during a friendly in Nashville.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 June 2025
  • Instead of learning from this bleak recent history, Americans are now painfully absorbing this lesson by repeating it.
    — Jonathan Haskel, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2025
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • While Sanabria Tarazona’s family has remained silent out of fear Prieto has publicly denounced his detention and urged U.S. authorities to reconsider.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
  • But most Republicans remained silent, or accused Padilla of being a provocateur.
    — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Without a clear roadmap, friendship breakups often feel ambiguous, or sometimes lead to unnecessary hurt.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 7 June 2025
  • The Food and Drug Administration’s April 22 news release contains some ambiguous language.
    — Andrea Ruth, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Less prescient was her claim—ignorant in exactly the way of so many white feminists throughout history—that racial oppression would be solved once gender was abolished.
    — Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 11 June 2025
  • The provision prohibiting states from regulating AI for the next 10 years is unconscionably ignorant and dangerous.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • While Disney hasn’t revealed Starfighter’s plot, THR adds that the film revolves around Gosling’s character protecting a young charge against evil pursuers, one of whom is Goth.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 7 June 2025
  • These dedicated warriors certainly earn our admiration in the good/evil binary of the conflict, but complications help give the documentary shape, as in the attention given a crusty logger named Valdir, who agreed to be featured on camera.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Definition of evil
Noun
  • Those looking to become sober can text an AA volunteer any time day or night and receive support from a member of the AA team of recovering alcoholics.
    — Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025
  • Insider provided flights from New York City to Denver and two nights of accommodation so Ars could attend its StreamTV Show.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 June 2025
Definition of night
Adjective
  • Since President Donald Trump took office, at least half of the security council's staff have been laid off or left, and the future of BARDA is murky.
    — Amy Maxmen, ABC News, 6 June 2025
  • But whether federal or state politicians could foil a Trump settlement is murky.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
Definition of murky

Phrases Containing dark

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daringness
dark
dark age
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Cite this Entry

“Dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dark. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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