DARKEN Synonyms: 131 Similar and Opposite Words

darken

verb

ˈdär-kən

Definition of darken

as in to frown

to take on a gloomy or forbidding look his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fade

to grow dark the sky darkened as a storm moved in

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to obscure

to make dark, dim, or indistinct years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to mar

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 darken Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until mixture is darkened and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026 During the Cold War, the Air Force introduced specialized PLZT goggles that used an electro-optic ceramic to darken almost instantly when exposed to the intense flash from a nuclear explosion. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026 The summer sounds of 1966 offered a distraction from darkening clouds of social and political upheaval. — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 The chicken enchiladas with salsa verde cremosa were good, but the Black Angus tacos, served on corn tortillas darkened with squid ink, are the highlight here. — Connie Ogle july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for darken

Recent Examples of Synonyms for darken

Verb

Puni is entrenched at right guard for his third season, and Foerster has frowned on the idea of shifting him to the vacant left-guard spot.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 July 2026
The maid remained at the door while Helen took a seat on the sofa, and Sonya frowned.

— Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026

Definition of frown

Verb

Starring Zhou Xun, Wang Xiao and Tian Zhuangzhuang, the film revolves around a middle-aged former TV host whose memory starts to slowly fade, forcing her to confront the fractures within her family and the choices that shaped her life.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
But workers who are rusting out still report to their shifts and perform, although with a fading sense of purpose.

— Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of fade

Verb

Totality — when the sun is completely obscured — is only visible within the narrow path of the moon's shadow.

— Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026
No political spin, just a focus on the numbers from governments’ own reports and how their unique accounting rules and financial definitions are obscuring the full truth of their financial story.

— Sheila Weinberg, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of obscure

Verb

Just a week after heat and severe storms marred July Fourth celebrations, a heat dome trapped more of the country under relentless warmth and humidity.

— Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Following a 2024 general election marred by allegations of widespread vote-rigging, the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has struggled to build momentum.

— Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of mar

Verb

The students stared at their feet and struggled to keep straight faces.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Very few things in movies and television shows delight me as much as a mysterious character revealing his or her fascinating backstory through an extended monologue that is delivered while staring off into the unspecified middle distance.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of stare

Verb

With minimal humidity, near-perfect clear-sky frequency and vast empty horizons, Namibia offers the kind of slow, immersive darkness that makes dusking feel less like a trend and more like a return to something ancient.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
The park is open from daylight to dusk for visitors and 24/7 for campers.

— Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 15 Jan. 2026

Definition of dusk

Verb

Some diligently blur out the faces of guests who are in the vicinity and captured on camera.

— Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Her new liquid foundation—the brand’s first—utilizes amino acid powders to blur and mattify the appearance of pores sans dryness for a finish that’s natural, skinlike, and exceptionally diffused.

— Kiana Murden, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of blur

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dark ages

darken

darkened

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“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darken. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of darken

verb

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