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

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
The film takes the story in a darker direction, with the crisis spreading to a second city and fresh quarantine measures coming into force as protagonist Maya continues hunting for her younger brother Adi. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026 Police sent up a drone that arrived before officers and beamed back images of the man on the rooftop of a building, kneeling down and placing into his backpack a dark object that police believed was a handgun, according to the affidavit. —Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
But for some nearby residents, concerns grow after dark. —Conor McGill, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026 Ground lights add ambiance to an outdoor space while also serving as a safety feature, helping prevent slips on walkways, pool areas, and gardens after dark. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 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
  • Among them was Anna Wintour, the dim lighting no match for her signature black shades.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • String lights, lanterns or solar path lights woven through your greenery completely change the mood after dark, highlighting leaf textures and turning the space into a garden retreat rather than a dim slab.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of dim
Adjective
  • The document offers the most detailed account yet of the missing person’s investigation that culminated on Friday with the discovery of Limon’s body in a set of black trash bags discarded along the Howard Frankland Bridge.
    — Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Doechii and Gaga were twinning in matching black Opera Platforms by Thom Solo, and in another clip Gaga is wearing custom red crocodile Thom Solo Opera heels.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of black
Adjective
  • At first glance, AI companions for lonely seniors can seem dystopian, looking less like innovation than a bleak sign of social failure.
    — Catherine Thorbecke, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Things are impossibly bleak for the Rockets, which were without Kevin Durant for the second game this series.
    — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • What do the Gen Z pout, influencer accent, silent scream say about young people?
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Republican leaders may have initially felt blindsided by the conflict, but most quickly either bent the knee or remained silent.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • The problem with the exhibition is not the works of art on view, but its ambiguous premise, its unwillingness to define its terms and approach the Lost Cause with historical clarity.
    — Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The services can analyze all sorts of things, from the specific — such as a hotel bill that exceeded a preset limit — to the more ambiguous, such as whether a lawyer’s description of a task was too vague to be worthy of payment.
    — Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • The popularity of e-bikes and e-motos has soared since the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving lawmakers and law enforcement scrambling to regulate the bikes that are often used by young riders ignorant or disdainful of the rules of the road.
    — Sean Emery, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Trump is either too ignorant or mentally challenged — and dangerous — to continue as president.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • The actors sprang to life, staging a lurid scene in which an evil mistress named Selina frames the heroine for killing her unborn child.
    — Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Clearly, the Iranian regime is evil.
    — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • The Audacity creator Jonathan Glatzer and star Billy Magnussen, who plays wealthy tech CEO Duncan Park, took the stage at Deadline Contenders TV to talk about taking the tech monster lurking in the shadows and those responsible for its existence, and turning it into a comedy.
    — Amanda Champagne-Meadows, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Three generations of Nicolsons have grown strawberries on this roughly 9-acre patch of land along Route 66, nestled in the shadows of Southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains and tucked between a gas station, a golf course and a Walmart.
    — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 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 1 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dark

Nglish: Translation of dark for Spanish Speakers

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