dark
Lacking any light
Dark is the absence or near-absence of light: a dark room, dark clouds.
By extension, dark describes deep colors closer to black than white: dark blue, dark hair.
Figuratively, dark suggests gloom, evil, or the unknown: dark thoughts, dark secrets, the dark side.
A dark horse is an unknown competitor who might surprise.
To be in the dark is to lack information.
To keep someone in the dark is to withhold it from them.
Light blocked by object
- blacknessComplete absence of light
- gloomPervasive dimness or dejection
- murkThick atmospheric darkness
- dimnessInsufficient illumination
obscurity · pitch-black · unlit · shadowy · tenebrous · lightless · sunless · moonless
Darkest possible hue
- charcoalBurned wood residue
- ebonyDense dark tropical wood
- onyxLayered black-white gemstone
- jetForced fluid stream
ink · soot · raven · obsidian · coal · midnight · deep · rich
Concealed information
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
- obscureUnknown to most
- veiledConcealed or obscured
- shroudedCovered and hidden
covert · clandestine · mysterious · enigmatic · cryptic · underground · shadowy · unseen
Threateningly suggestive of harm
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- malevolentHarboring ill will
- nefariousExtremely evil or villainous
- villainousExtremely wicked or criminal
corrupt · vile · diabolical · malicious · fiendish · unholy · depraved · heinous
Suggesting something bad approaches
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- eerieDisturbingly strange
creepy · haunting · chilling · terrifying · dreadful · spooky · unnerving · sinister
Natural coloring compound
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
- tanYellowish-brown hue
- olivePitted briny fruit
- bronzeCopper-tin alloy
caramel · chocolate · espresso · mocha · umber · sienna · tawny · sepia
Active during darkness
- twilightLight after sunset
- duskDimming after sundown
- midnightTwelve o'clock at night
- moonlessLacking lunar presence
nightfall · evening · after-hours · nighttime · predawn · owl · bat · starless
Dark and dispiriting
- somberGravely serious in mood
- bleakDreary and without cheer
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
sullen · morose · despairing · grim · pessimistic · depressing · dismal · cheerless
Lacking awareness or knowledge
- uninformedLacking necessary knowledge
- benightedMorally or intellectually dark
- backwardToward what's behind
- primitiveIn earliest form
barbaric · uncivilized · illiterate · uneducated · medieval · superstitious · unaware · oblivious
shadow
Light blocked by object
dimness · obscurity · pitch-black · unlit · shadowy · tenebrous · lightless · sunless · moonless · starless
black
Darkest possible hue
jet · ink · soot · raven · obsidian · coal · midnight · deep · rich · saturated
secret
Concealed information
shrouded · covert · clandestine · mysterious · enigmatic · cryptic · underground · shadowy · unseen · unknown
sinister
Threateningly suggestive of harm
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- malevolentHarboring ill will
- nefariousExtremely evil or villainous
villainous · corrupt · vile · diabolical · malicious · fiendish · unholy · depraved · heinous · immoral
ominous
Suggesting something bad approaches
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
eerie · creepy · haunting · chilling · terrifying · dreadful · spooky · unnerving · sinister · macabre
melanin
Natural coloring compound
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
- tanYellowish-brown hue
- olivePitted briny fruit
bronze · caramel · chocolate · espresso · mocha · umber · sienna · tawny · sepia · mahogany
nocturnal
Active during darkness
moonless · nightfall · evening · after-hours · nighttime · predawn · owl · bat · starless · bedtime
gloomy
Dark and dispiriting
- somberGravely serious in mood
- bleakDreary and without cheer
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
brooding · sullen · morose · despairing · grim · pessimistic · depressing · dismal · cheerless · morbid
unenlightened
Lacking awareness or knowledge
- uninformedLacking necessary knowledge
- benightedMorally or intellectually dark
- backwardToward what's behind
primitive · barbaric · uncivilized · illiterate · uneducated · medieval · superstitious · unaware · oblivious
- adjectivesbig, urgent, amazing, temporary, bold
- chocolatecacao, white, bittersweet, cocoa powder, semisweet
- fragrancesperfume, cologne, aftershave, essential oils, floral
- art adjectivesbold, bright, colorful, delicate, dramatic
- colorationpigment, pigmentation, hue, tint, saturation
- Darknessblackness, pitch black, pitch-black, inkiness, murk
- in the darkUninformed about something
- after darkDuring nighttime hours
- dark chocolateCocoa-heavy candy variety
- shot in the darkAttempt lacking any basis
- dark sideHidden negative aspect
- dark blueDeep shade of azure
darkness, darken, darkened, darkest, darkly, darker, darkens, darkening, darkish