Synonyms for

Darkness

Verb / ˈdɑ:rknʌs / Another word for darkness — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

the partial or total absence of light

Synonyms & similar words

swarthiness light dark lightness shadow wickedness iniquity duskiness obscurity shadows night gloom blackout dimness murk shade dusk twilight gloaming dark blackness nightfall

Synonyms by register

Formal

obscurity gloom blackness

Informal

pitch black the dark

Literary

nether Stygian ebon

Antonyms

light brightness illumination radiance daylight visibility

Common collocations

  • complete darkness
  • utter darkness
  • darkness falls
  • darkness descends
  • in the darkness
  • out of the darkness
  • darkness of night

Word family

noun darkness
adjective dark

Usage note

Darkness often carries connotations of fear, mystery, or the unknown. It is the absence of light.

Example sentences

  1. The darkness in the cave made me feel scared.
  2. The darkness of the night made it hard to see the stars.
  3. I always sleep better in complete darkness.
  4. The darkness of the forest at night was eerie.
  5. The darkness enveloped the city as the sun set.

Quotes

  • There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in. - Leonard Cohen
  • The night is darkest just before the dawn. - Thomas Fuller
  • Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. - Martin Luther King Jr.

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