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Definitions

dark

[dahrk] / dɑrk /
ADJECTIVE
lacking light
Synonyms
STRONGEST
black cloudy darkened dim dingy drab dull foggy gloomy misty murky overcast shadowy somber
STRONG
dun faint
WEAK
aphotic atramentous blackish caliginous cimmerian clouded crepuscular dusky ill-lighted indistinct inky lightless lurid nebulous obfuscous obscure opaque pitch-black pitch-dark pitchy rayless shaded shady sooty stygian sunless tenebrous unlighted unlit vague
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bright cheerful clean clear distinct good happy intelligent joyful light luminous smart sparkling sunny vivacious
WEAK
apparent brilliant encouraging evident hopeful illuminated lucid manifest moral plain pleased radiant shining visible vivid
ADJECTIVE
hidden, secret
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deep mysterious
STRONG
mystic occult
WEAK
Delphian abstruse anagogic arcane cabalistic complicated concealed cryptic enigmatic esoteric intricate knotty mystical mystifying not known obscure puzzling recondite
Antonyms
WEAK
apparent bright brilliant cheerful distinct encouraging evident good happy hopeful illuminated light lucid luminous manifest moral plain pleased radiant shining visible vivid
ADJECTIVE
grim, hopeless
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bleak drab gloomy ominous sinister somber
STRONG
foreboding
WEAK
cheerless dismal doleful joyless morbid morose mournful unpropitious
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bright cheerful encouraging happy joyful nice sunny
WEAK
apparent brilliant distinct evident good hopeful illuminated light lucid luminous manifest moral plain pleased radiant shining visible vivid
ADJECTIVE
evil, satanic
Synonyms
STRONGEST
sinister
STRONG
bad foul infernal
WEAK
atrocious corrupt damnable hellish horrible immoral infamous nefarious sinful vile wicked
Antonyms
STRONG
good honest just
WEAK
apparent bright brilliant cheerful distinct encouraging evident happy hopeful illuminated light lucid luminous manifest moral plain pleased radiant shining visible vivid
ADJECTIVE
ignorant
Synonyms
WEAK
benighted uncultivated unenlightened unlettered unread
Antonyms
WEAK
apparent bright brilliant cheerful distinct encouraging evident good happy hopeful illuminated light lucid luminous manifest moral plain pleased radiant shining visible vivid
ADJECTIVE
angry, upset
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ominous
STRONG
forbidding sulky
WEAK
dour frowning glowering glum scowling sullen threatening
Antonyms
WEAK
apparent bright brilliant cheerful distinct encouraging evident good happy hopeful illuminated light lucid luminous manifest moral plain pleased radiant shining visible vivid
NOUN
place, time without light
Synonyms
STRONGEST
darkness dusk shade
STRONG
dimness evening gloom midnight murk night nightfall nighttime obscurity semidarkness shadows twilight
WEAK
dead of night witching hour
Antonyms
STRONGEST
brightness light
STRONG
daybreak
WEAK
cognizance day daylight daytime illumination intelligence lightness morning sense sensibility understanding
NOUN
ignorance; mystery
Synonyms
STRONG
concealment denseness inscrutability seclusion secrecy thickness
Antonyms
STRONGEST
enlightenment
STRONG
revelation
WEAK
brightness cognizance day daylight daytime illumination intelligence light lightness morning sense sensibility understanding

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At present, dark energy is the best explanation for this behavior, even though its true nature remains unknown.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026

Perhaps they’re aquatic organisms—otherworldly cephalopods—that thrive in the dark seas of the outer solar system’s icy moons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

A24's latest dark romantic comedy, The Drama, sees Zendaya and Robert Pattinson play Emma and Charlie, a soon-to-be married couple whose relationship is tested after a surprise revelation in the days before their wedding.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Upon entering the home, guests are greeted with an expansive living area, which comes complete with dark wood floors and an open floor plan.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

But she’s alone in the dark, with no phone, no food, and no bathroom, and her parents are hours away with no idea that she’s stuck.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Vocabulary lists containing dark

Selection Vocabulary 3, Unit 2

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Selection Vocabulary 2, Unit 3

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