black 1 of 3

adjective

ˈblak How to pronounce black (audio)
Definition of blacknext
1
as in ebony
having the color of soot or coal we adopted a little black kitten

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer the Friday of the stock market crash was indeed a black day for the country

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3
as in swarthy
not having a light complexion a black Irishman, Tyrone Power had the classic looks of a Hollywood leading man

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4
as in darkened
being without light or without much light on a black night such as this, the imagination runs wild

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5
as in blackened
not clean after mopping the floor, the water in the bucket was black

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

black

2 of 3

noun

as in blackness
a time or place of little or no light we had to find our way on back roads in the black of night

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black

3 of 3

verb

chiefly British
as in to boycott

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of black
Adjective
Elmhurst Police Department The suspect was last seen fleeing the scene riding a black Segway-brand electric scooter with a headlight on, riding west on Vallette Street from York Street. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Pair the Swiss roll with one of Babychan’s specialty drinks, like the miso caramel latte or banana hojicha, or go all in with the black sesame latte. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
First look at Lewisville transfer Tre Williams in Aledo Bearcat black and orange. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026 Pros suggest finishes like matte black, glass, or enamel to add personality and warmth. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black
  1. ebony
  2. dark
  3. darkened
  4. blackened
  5. blackness
  6. boycott
  7. raven
  8. gray
Adjective
  • The color palette included ebony, black and oak tones.
    — Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 21 June 2026
  • The venerable patriarch is leaning heavily on an ebony cane, and is followed closely by his personal assistant, a bald gnome of a man, armed with a notebook and pencil.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Definition of ebony
Adjective
  • On top of the moving-camera-foamy-dark-mouth challenge, there was the plaque challenge.
    — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Finley’s breakout was the 2017 dark comedy Thoroughbreds, in which Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy play high-schoolers conspiring to kill an abusive stepfather.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Definition of blackened
Noun
  • Totality was extraordinary, with a circle of blackness in the sky.
    — Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Experts say that the biggest challenge at that extreme level of blackness is actually measuring it.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 June 2026
Definition of blackness
Verb
  • In fact, one of Schleien’s Free Israel videos was directed at American liberals, after a group of Hollywood actors and other film workers signed a letter pledging to boycott some institutions within the Israeli film industry.
    — Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The election campaign has been overshadowed by weeks of protests led by the JAAC, which has urged residents to boycott the vote.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of boycott
Adjective
  • Earlier this season, Jackie and Shadow laid four eggs, but two were destroyed during a raven attack.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Earlier this season, the pair laid four eggs, but two were destroyed during a raven attack.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
Definition of raven
Adjective
  • The above style is an absolute staple, and the mid-blue wash goes with everything—I’m already picturing it with a gray cashmere sweater.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Dessens of every dimension — and all the other major characters, for that matter — are not the most colorful bunch, and the sober tone of the early episodes, such as the slate-gray Chicago winters, could have an unwelcome heaviness.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of gray

Phrases Containing black

Browse Nearby Words

blabs
black
black-and-white
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Cite this Entry

“Black.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on black

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about black

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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