1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
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
4
as in to mar
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Right away, its stark-black exterior captivates, having been treated with the Japanese technique shou sugi ban that preserves and darkens its cedar cladding.
—
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2025
Ramadan in Gaza In Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, AP video showed a long table set for the breaking of the day’s Ramadan fast, snaking through the ruins and lit by strings of lights as the sky darkened.
—David Rising, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
During the day, their color darkens.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2025
Shared pool, pet-friendly, concierge, bike rentals, room-darkening shades Proximity is a big perk when staying at this luxe bungalow villa—downtown Tulum is just five minutes away by car, 10 minutes from the beach, and 15 minutes from Gran Cenote and Kaan Luum Lagoon.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for darken
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2025
Ramadan in Gaza In Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, AP video showed a long table set for the breaking of the day’s Ramadan fast, snaking through the ruins and lit by strings of lights as the sky darkened.
—David Rising, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
During the day, their color darkens.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2025
Shared pool, pet-friendly, concierge, bike rentals, room-darkening shades Proximity is a big perk when staying at this luxe bungalow villa—downtown Tulum is just five minutes away by car, 10 minutes from the beach, and 15 minutes from Gran Cenote and Kaan Luum Lagoon.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for darken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darken
Verb
-
Bolsonaro, who had sat apart from the other candidates, frowned furiously.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
-
There were even rumors that sneezing in McMahon's presence was frowned upon, as it was perceived as a sign of weakness.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Curiosity fades fast when people don’t feel safe to use it.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
As the skin became more brittle, the hair fell out and the fatty layer beneath began to show more through the years, the white color faded, researchers said.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The recipient's name was obscured, and it was noted that the migrant refused to sign it on Friday.—
Andrew Chung, Luc Cohen, Kristina Cooke,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
-
But the short-term bump in the stock price obscures a much more complicated picture.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The dashboard was part of an extended pressure campaign from Buttigieg, who, during his tenure in the Biden administration, publicly challenged the major carriers to improve service and transparency—particularly after a summer marred by cancellations and flight delays.—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
8 Apr. 2025
-
What to Know Artists like Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift have previously clashed with ticketing platforms, with Swift's 2022 tour marred by widespread ticket access issues.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But Oskar continued to be mesmerized, staring at the rotating blades.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Perhaps the Staring Girl is just that, a staring girl.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Juicy, whole lobster served grilled or blackened is best, though the menu at this famous haunt features every possible elaboration of the dish.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Photo : Andrew Pogue The compact kitchen sports blackened stainless-steel counters.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Here, the border of the gayborhood blurs with the gay beach.—
JD Shadel,
Them.,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The extensive use of glass enhances visibility while blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior, making every journey feel seamless and connected to the surroundings.—
The Editors,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.—
Jack Fitzgerald,
Car and Driver,
13 Feb. 2023
-
Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darken. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share