darker

ADJECTIVE

lack of light

Synonyms

STRONGEST

black cloudy darkened dim dingy drab dull foggy gloomy misty murky overcast shadowy somber

STRONG

dun dusk faint

WEAK

aphotic atramentous blackish caliginous cimmerian clouded crepuscular dusky grimy 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

shaded complexion, hair

Synonyms

STRONGEST

black tan

STRONG

brunet brunette ebony sable

WEAK

adumbral bistered dark-complexioned dark-skinned dusky ebon swart swarthy

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

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

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.

But it is also now true that the arithmetic and sentiment the prime minister confronts are bleak and getting darker.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Her hair got longer, her makeup got darker, and her outfits got more club-appropriate.

From Slate • May 6, 2026

Yes, Season 2 of Hulu’s middle-school comedy is darker.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

Lawlor adds, “The local ingredients in Boston and New England were different, with items like lobster and molasses, which make many New England Chinese food dishes darker and sweeter.”

From Salon • May 3, 2026

I'd never noticed it before, but she had a tiny snail-shaped freckle on her neck, two shades darker than her light brown skin.

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee