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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
But at zero cost and minimal risk for most people, dark showering ranks among the more credible free wellness trends to emerge from social media this cycle. —Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026 One video of the village hills shows several vehicles and tents in flames with rising columns of dark smoke. —Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
When and How to See the Northern Lights The NOAA advises skywatchers to head outside after dark Tuesday night, ideally during the late evening and overnight hours when auroral activity often peaks. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 Anyone who watched Pac-12 after dark knows all about ref shows. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 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
  • The Icon Park attraction will limit capacity, dim lighting, lower the music and disable stimulating exhibits.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The hall was dim and still surprisingly cool despite the gathering heat outside.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of dim
Adjective
  • Handout/United Hatzalah Television network Channel 12 showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky from the site.
    — Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The bathrooms are spacious and modern, with black tiles and super soft robes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of black
Adjective
  • But the state education department questioned this week whether the picture is as bleak as Superintendent Andrae Townsel’s administration has described.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Amid the chaos under Yeltsin, a bleak frontier culture took hold.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • Both sides are silent right now, but a release from the WGA and the AMPTP is expected soon(ish).
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2026
  • But the most impactful force on the court could be the silent, invisible sixth man – the mind gym.
    — Haley Sawyer, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Event-betting markets flourish in ambiguous or unevenly-enforced legal environments.
    — Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 3 Apr. 2026
  • War is about politics—and therefore, objectives, which are particularly political, are often ambiguous and subject to change.
    — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Across Southern California, e-bike popularity has soared, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic — with a disportionate number of young riders ignorant or ignoring the rules of the road, authorities say, leading to crashes and in some cases fatalities.
    — Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Having access to knowledge and being able to collectively reflect are rights too precious to surrender to those who prefer us ignorant.
    — Megan Thiele Strong, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • There's very few probably as evil as Marsha Allen and Ashley Jones.
    — Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The earliest Greek philosophers focused their attention upon the origin and nature of the physical world; later philosophers have theorized about the nature of knowledge, truth, good and evil, love, friendship, and much more.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • What are the shadows doing, coming off the ridges of those canyons?
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Riachi leaned into its shadows, installing panelling and perforated screens in American walnut, a timber chosen for its rich, timeless quality.
    — Amy Bradford, Architectural Digest, 29 Mar. 2026
Definition of shadows

Phrases Containing dark

Browse Nearby Words

daringness
dark
dark age
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dark. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on dark

Nglish: Translation of dark for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of verdant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Apr. 3

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

17 Words for Dog Breeds
See More

Popular

See More

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
8-track-tapes
Good Old-Fashioned Quiz Can you name these antiquated items?
See All