darken | Definition of darken

1 to take on a gloomy or forbidding look

his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news

Synonyms of darken

gloom, glower, lower (also lour)

Words Related to darken

frown, scowl

glare, stare

brood, mope, pet, pout, sulk

anger, bristle, fume, rage, steam, storm

intimidate, menace, threaten

Antonyms of darken

brighten, cheer (up), lighten, perk (up)

2 to grow dark

the sky darkened as a storm moved in

Synonyms of darken

blacken, black out, close in, dusk

Words Related to darken

dim, fade, wane

gloom, lower (also lour)

Near Antonyms of darken

dawn

beam, glow, radiate, shine

Antonyms of darken

brighten, light, lighten

3 to make dark, dim, or indistinct

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

Synonyms of darken

becloud, bedim, befog, blacken, blear, blur, cloud, dim, dislimn, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, obscure, overcast, overcloud, overshadow, shadow, shroud

Words Related to darken

adumbrate, blot out, conceal, eclipse, hide, obliterate, screen, shade

camouflage, cloak, cover, curtain, disguise, mask, veil

Near Antonyms of darken

expose, reveal, uncover, unveil

Antonyms of darken

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

4 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable

the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation

Synonyms of darken

blemish, mar, poison, spoil, stain, taint, tarnish, touch, vitiate

Words Related to darken

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 Antonyms of darken

cleanse, purify

dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

Synonyms and Antonyms of darken

WORD OF THE DAY

fugitive