dark 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdärk How to pronounce dark (audio)
Definition of darknext
1
as in dim
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
For their special day, Joiya wore a white dress with a halter neckline while Jalen opted for a dark suit. —Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026 Sunlight breaks down the active ingredient, so store your neem oil in the original packaging in a cool, dark place. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
Noun
Those that do see a storm will likely see them in the late afternoon and early evening, anything that flares up will fizzle out after dark. —Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 17 May 2026 Guests can reserve a time to make their own art too and choose to make a traditional, glow-in-the-dark, or pumpkin ornament. —Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
  1. dim
  2. black
  3. bleak
  4. silent
  5. ambiguous
  6. ignorant
  7. evil
  8. shadows
Adjective
  • But even with this 100-fold boost in brightness, LAP1-B is so dim that neither the JWST nor Hubble could detect its stellar continuum—the steady background light of its stars.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
  • The hotel seems to cater to corporate guests, with design aesthetic that leans into dim daytime lighting and dark wooden furnishing—definitely more business than casual.
    — Mike Jordan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 May 2026
Definition of dim
Adjective
  • The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum wore her hair slicked back in a low bun, dark black eyeliner to bring out her eyes, and a light pink lip.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
  • Clad in black and concealing their faces, the rioters hurled dangerous flares and pyrotechnics directly onto the playing surface.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Definition of black
Adjective
  • In other words, the status quo of ed tech is bleak.
    — Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
  • Like its gruesome predecessors, his latest full-length work features adorably designed anthropomorphic animals (and mushrooms) navigating bleak realities and confronting existentialist concerns.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 May 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • Misael eating meat alone, cutting up pieces with an enormous knife while barely lit by the flames in front of him, and, sporadically, almost-silent lightning bursts in the distant background.
    — Vadim Rizov, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
  • My cancer was so silent that two gynecologists hadn’t considered it as a possible diagnosis, and at least one radiologist had entirely missed my tumor—as wide as a peach and as long as my hand.
    — Nami Mun, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Text messages in court records show a brief and ambiguous exchange between McCluskie and Williamson that backs that up.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
  • The apparent conflict highlights the ambiguous rules around recall status and its relevance in a trial that’s been peppered with globe-trotting billionaires.
    — David Ingram, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • But even for someone like myself, totally ignorant to the lore and not really seeking to change that, the Star Wars universe can look genuinely interesting, and some games every now and then manage to tap into that potential.
    — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Jahmil Eady – Freaky As gentrifiers take over her neighborhood, a Gullah Geechee woman, Annabelle (Melanie Nicholls-King) calls on ancestral knowledge, which has dire consequences for the newcomers who have begun to take over the land, ignorant of its history.
    — Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • Another pair of wins from KPop Demon Hunters, which are attached to the evil boy band Saja Boys, cracked the top 10 as well, and several members – the group is made up of Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo and Samuil Lee – are usually classified as K-pop artists.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
  • The filmmaker’s post included a photo of himself with a puppet of Metal Sonic, an evil robot version of Sonic from the gaming franchise that was teased at the end of the third movie.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • However, the actor does most of the heavy lifting, even as Nemes’ aesthetic approach drowns the frame in striking shadows — a contrast made deep and inviting by Mátyás Erdély’s 35mm photography.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 May 2026
  • Craters, shadows and rugged lunar terrain that were barely visible to the naked eye suddenly came alive in remarkable detail.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 15 May 2026
Definition of shadows

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 21 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dark for Spanish Speakers

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