Darken — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈdär-kən/ dark·en

Meaning & Definition of Darken

Darken (verb)

  1. to grow dark, become obscured
  2. to become gloomy
  3. to make dark

Darken (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take on a gloomy or forbidding look

    "his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news"

    similar: gloom, glower, lower
    related: frown, scowl, glare, stare, brood, mope, pet, pout, sulk, anger, bristle, fume, rage, steam, storm, intimidate, menace, threaten
    opposite: brighten, cheer (up), lighten, perk (up)

  2. to grow dark

    "the sky darkened as a storm moved in"

    similar: blacken, black out, close in, dusk
    related: dim, fade, wane, gloom, lower
    opposite: brighten, light, lighten
    near: dawn, beam, glow, radiate, shine

  3. to make dark, dim, or indistinct

    "years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen"

    similar: becloud, bedim, befog, blacken, blear, blur, cloud, dim, dislimn, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, obscure, overcast, overcloud, overshadow, shadow, shroud
    related: adumbrate, blot out, conceal, eclipse, hide, obliterate, screen, shade, camouflage, cloak, cover, curtain, disguise, mask, veil
    opposite: brighten, illuminate, illumine, light (up), lighten
    near: expose, reveal, uncover, unveil

  4. to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable

    "the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation"

    similar: blemish, mar, poison, spoil, stain, taint, tarnish, touch, vitiate
    related: begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, smut, soil, sully, tar, abase, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame, sink, bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert, color, distort, twist
    near: cleanse, purify, dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Darken

The most common words with a similar meaning to Darken:

gloom, glower, lower, blacken, black out, close in, dusk, becloud, bedim, befog, blear, blur, cloud, dim, dislimn, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, obscure, overcast, overcloud, overshadow, shadow, shroud, blemish, mar, poison, spoil, stain, taint, tarnish, touch, vitiate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Darken

Words with the opposite meaning of Darken:

brighten, cheer (up), lighten, perk (up), light, illuminate, illumine, light (up)

Related Words for Darken

frown, scowl, glare, stare, brood, mope, pet, pout, sulk, anger, bristle, fume, rage, steam, storm, intimidate, menace, threaten, fade, wane, adumbrate, blot out, conceal, eclipse, hide, obliterate, screen, shade, camouflage, cloak

Near Antonyms of Darken

dawn, beam, glow, radiate, shine, expose, reveal, uncover, unveil, cleanse, purify, dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

Word Forms of Darken

Inflections: darkened, darkening

Derived words: darkener (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Darken

First known use: 14th centuryi

Words & Phrases Containing Darken

darken someone's door/doors

Frequently Asked Questions about Darken

What does "Darken" mean?

"Darken" means to grow dark, become obscured. As a verb, it is defined as: to grow dark, become obscured. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Darken"?

Other words for "Darken" include gloom, glower, lower, blacken, black out, close in, dusk and becloud. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Darken" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Darken"?

There are 103 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Darken". Common alternatives include gloom, glower, lower, blacken, black out, close in, dusk, becloud, bedim and befog.

What is the opposite of "Darken"?

Antonyms of "Darken" include brighten, cheer (up), lighten, perk (up), light, illuminate, illumine and light (up). Near antonyms include dawn, beam, glow and radiate.

How do you use "Darken" in a sentence?

Examples of "Darken" in a sentence: "his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news"; "the sky darkened as a storm moved in"; "years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen".

Is "Darken" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Darken" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Darken"?

"Darken" is pronounced /ˈdär-kən/ and divided into syllables as dark·en.

What is the origin of the word "Darken"?

First known use: 14th centuryi.