dark arts
Sinister occult practices
Dark arts refers to sinister or forbidden practices, originally magical—witchcraft, necromancy, curses.
The term gained wide currency through Harry Potter's "Defense Against the Dark Arts." It now extends figuratively to any manipulative expertise: the dark arts of political opposition research, She mastered the dark arts of corporate negotiation.
The phrase implies craft that's effective but ethically suspect.
Communicating with the deceased
- black magicEvil supernatural practice
- curseInvoked harm through words
- hexMalevolent incantation
- witchcraftPractice of supernatural magic
voodoo · sorcery · demonology · blood magic · conjuration · sacrifice · pact · summoning
Understood by few
- esotericAccessible to few
- occultismBelief in supernatural forces
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- grimoireTextbook of sorcery
sigil · runes · incantation · spellcasting · enchantment · divination · alchemy · cabalistic
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
- macabreDisturbing, death-obsessed
eerie · ominous · ghastly · sinister · malevolent · haunting · spine-tingling · foreboding
Intentional misleading of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- mind controlDirecting another's thoughts
- enchantmentMagical influence over someone
- beguileCharm into deception
charm · mesmerize · hypnosis · influence · domination · corruption · seduction · persuasion
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- hiddenKept out of sight
- veiledConcealed or obscured
- shroudedCovered and hidden
concealed · cryptic · shadowy · underground · forbidden lore · secret society · initiation · cabal
necromancy
Communicating with the deceased
- black magicEvil supernatural practice
- curseInvoked harm through words
- hexMalevolent incantation
witchcraft · voodoo · sorcery · demonology · blood magic · conjuration · sacrifice · pact · summoning · invocation
arcane
Understood by few
grimoire · sigil · runes · incantation · spellcasting · enchantment · divination · alchemy · cabalistic · seance
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
macabre · eerie · ominous · ghastly · sinister · malevolent · haunting · spine-tingling · foreboding · menacing
deception
Intentional misleading of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- mind controlDirecting another's thoughts
- enchantmentMagical influence over someone
beguile · charm · mesmerize · hypnosis · influence · domination · corruption · seduction · persuasion · illusion
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
shrouded · concealed · cryptic · shadowy · underground · forbidden lore · secret society · initiation · cabal · cult
- magicwizard, wand, sorcerer, witchcraft, mage
- witchcraftwitch, spell, spellwork, witches, spells
- dark sideinner demons, shadow self, inner demon, secret self, alter ego
- occultwitchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, black magic, tarot
- arcanagrimoire, spellbook, incantation, enchantment, arcanum
- dark magicblack magic, sorcery, witchcraft, wizardry, necromancy
dark artswhite magic
Benevolent supernatural practice
light magic · healing magic · theurgy · blessing · enchantment
dark, artist, article, darkness, arts, articulate, artistry, artwork, articles