Darkness
Where shadows reign
Darkness is the absence of light.
A room in darkness has no illumination; to be left in darkness about something is to lack information.
The word carries connotations of evil, fear, or the unknown: the forces of darkness, a heart of darkness.
Darkness also describes a quality of color—deep, muted tones closer to black than white.
Complete absence of brightness
- blacknessComplete absence of light
- shadowLight blocked by object
- gloomPervasive dimness or dejection
- dimnessInsufficient illumination
murk · obscurity · shade · dusk · twilight · penumbra · tenebrous · pitch-black
Prolonged low state
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- anguishIntense mental suffering
bleakness · hopelessness · desolation · misery · gloom · desperation · torment · suffering
Lacking awareness or information
- blindnessAbsence of vision
- unenlightenedLacking awareness or knowledge
- benightedMorally or intellectually dark
- obscurantismRestricting access to knowledge
superstition · illiteracy · unawareness · confusion · bewilderment · mystification · veiled · hidden
Moral corruption or evil
- malevolenceActive ill will
- sinViolation of divine law
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- depravityProfound moral corruption
villainy · malice · demonic · satanic · hell · damnation · temptation · fallen
lightlessness
Complete absence of brightness
dimness · murk · obscurity · shade · dusk · twilight · penumbra · tenebrous · pitch-black · unlit
depression
Prolonged low state
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
anguish · bleakness · hopelessness · desolation · misery · gloom · desperation · torment · suffering · heaviness
unknowing
Lacking awareness or information
- blindnessAbsence of vision
- unenlightenedLacking awareness or knowledge
- benightedMorally or intellectually dark
obscurantism · superstition · illiteracy · unawareness · confusion · bewilderment · mystification · veiled · hidden · concealed
wickedness
Moral corruption or evil
- malevolenceActive ill will
- sinViolation of divine law
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
depravity · villainy · malice · demonic · satanic · hell · damnation · temptation · fallen · unholy
melanin
Natural coloring compound
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
- complexionSkin tone, appearance
- deepFar from surface
rich · ebony · mahogany · umber · bronze · cocoa · espresso · brown · dusky · swarthy
Darknesslight
Visible electromagnetic radiation
brightness · illumination · radiance · brilliance · luminosity
Darknesslight
Visible electromagnetic radiation
goodness · righteousness · holiness · purity · virtue
Darknesslightness
Minimal weight or gravity
brightness · joy · hope · light · cheerfulness
- in darknessLacking any illumination
- pitch darknessComplete absence of light
- light and darknessPresence and absence of illumination
- winter darknessCold season's extended night
- prince of darknessSupreme evil ruler
- Heart of DarknessNovella exploring imperialism's brutality
dark, darken, darkened, darkening, darkens, darkly, darker, darkest, darkling