as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
a darkening sky that seemed to match our downcast spirits
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in frowning
to take on a gloomy or forbidding look
his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fading
to grow dark
the sky darkened as a storm moved in
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3
as in obscuring
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen
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4
as in marring
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of darkening
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
The resulting scorching ash cloud reached as high as 16 miles into the atmosphere, darkening the sky and causing homes and businesses as far as 300 miles away to close.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
The display is arranged according to a precise formula, with sizes increasing from floor to ceiling, and colors darkening from left to right, as well as from the entrance to the back of the store.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
But the bigger picture for Iran’s oil revenue is darkening as other potential buyers hang back.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 14 Sep. 2025
Flowers are typically pale blue to lavender, darkening along the midrib and toward the tip of each petal.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Check the butter for signs of spoiling, including darkening, a foul odor, and/or a sour taste.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
By the time the Nashville five piece took the Grandstand stage, the temperature had dipped below 80 degrees and the darkening skies took on a purple shade.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025
What is certain, from the darkening findings of climate science, is that climate change calls for a bold remake of the global energy system of the sort that both Clack and Jacobson have championed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 June 2017
Verb
Other Mommy is described as a supernatural trip into the darkening world of a young girl as her family, and their home, are haunted by a sinister entity that is determined to take up residence inside her.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
The resulting scorching ash cloud reached as high as 16 miles into the atmosphere, darkening the sky and causing homes and businesses as far as 300 miles away to close.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
The display is arranged according to a precise formula, with sizes increasing from floor to ceiling, and colors darkening from left to right, as well as from the entrance to the back of the store.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
But the bigger picture for Iran’s oil revenue is darkening as other potential buyers hang back.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 14 Sep. 2025
Flowers are typically pale blue to lavender, darkening along the midrib and toward the tip of each petal.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Check the butter for signs of spoiling, including darkening, a foul odor, and/or a sour taste.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
By the time the Nashville five piece took the Grandstand stage, the temperature had dipped below 80 degrees and the darkening skies took on a purple shade.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025
What is certain, from the darkening findings of climate science, is that climate change calls for a bold remake of the global energy system of the sort that both Clack and Jacobson have championed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darkening
Adjective
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The night serum visibly smooths wrinkles, reduces fine lines, and soothes the appearance of dark circles and uneven skin tone.—
Gabriela Izquierdo,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The scent is smoky yet sweet, spicy yet smooth, dark but with an underlying lightness—the result of combining clean white musk with rose, tobacco, suede, and cumin.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But with its novelty fading and political scrutiny mounting, its long-term future in America is far from secure.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The sturdy plastic housings resist fading and cracking and are brown in color to blend with most outdoor surfaces.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Almost all of these skull caps date back to the Late Cretaceous, when pachycephalosaurs were already established across the Northern Hemisphere, obscuring the group’s early evolution.—
Jack Tamisiea,
Scientific American,
17 Sep. 2025
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Like the rest of the Yummy Skin line, the formula features Upsalite technology, which is a mixture of magnesium carbonate, great for soaking up oils, and marine algae, for obscuring pores.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Boston comes in with three straight losses marring otherwise agreeable vibes.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Not all of Mythopedia is so bleak—just my favorite parts.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
-
When kittens Sam and Frodo were found, survival odds were bleak.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In a brief video snippet accompanying the post, Cyrus is seen in close-up staring directly into the camera while wearing what looks like surgical gauze around her chin and head as more white material is blown by a breeze around her face.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
16 Sep. 2025
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As her 3-year-old began moving and removing her hand from her face and staring across the restaurant, Ariana followed her daughter's eyes to see another man seated far away from them.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
High-Heat-Safe Alternatives While enameled cast-iron cookware is excellent to use for braising, roasting, baking, or gentle stovetop cooking, certain high heat applications like searing steak or blackening fish are best done in other types of pans, like traditional cast iron or stainless steel.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
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Each footstep sent up clouds of dust and ash, coating everything, including my mouth and teeth, in fine grit, blackening my snot and saliva.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Oily to combination skin types can rejoice—blurring pigments combine with oil-absorbing kaolin clay for a long-lasting mattifying effect.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
15 Sep. 2025
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Supermodel Elton Ilirjani walked the runway, emphasizing the inclusive, boundary-blurring nature of Han’s collection.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Darkening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darkening. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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