black 1 of 3

1
as in ebony
having the color of soot or coal we adopted a little black kitten

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in brunette
not having a light complexion a black Irishman, Tyrone Power had the classic looks of a Hollywood leading man

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5

black

2 of 3

noun

black

3 of 3

verb

chiefly British

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
Noun
Reckoning are also holding on in their eighth weeks of release, but while the former has long-since surpassed its budget, the latter is still fighting to cross into the black globally. Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 13 July 2025 Police say White was abducted at gunpoint from outside his residence July 11 and placed into a white Jeep Renegade by an unknown man in a black face mask. Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 13 July 2025
Verb
Take your pick from black to mocha to crisp, winter white. Taylor Jean Stephan, Peoplemag, 31 Jan. 2023 Flaunt this fun, floral style, or opt for their best-selling classic black. Meg Donohue, Town & Country, 31 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black
Adjective
  • In the study, meanwhile, dark-hued walls and ebony wood are accented by abstract, colorful art.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 May 2025
  • Dating back roughly 1,500 years, the artifacts are carved from rare ebony wood that originated in India or Sri Lanka.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • The duo stepped out in complementary dark ensembles, with Hayek wearing one of her favorite footwear looks — hefty platform heels — with a black velvet dress.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
  • Look for bronze or dark spots on the foliage or prominent purple veins.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • In its time open, fueled by fans of its blackened mahi and buttery lobster rolls, owner Mike Smith has expanded his footprint, moving into a larger stall in the popular food hall — which has allowed for a menu expansion, as well.
    Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2022
  • There are no glamorous furnishings — just a French window, its blackened panes suggesting the dark of night.
    Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2022
Noun
  • The cliffs loomed up terribly out of the blackness.
    Nicole Krauss, The Atlantic, 6 July 2025
  • Four months’ worth of rain fell in just hours as water-laden thunderstorms stalled in place, giving rise to a wall of water that surged down the river in the blackness of night, limiting the number of people who could get the warnings and move to higher ground.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, The People’s Union USA is encouraging Americans to stay at home on July 4, boycotting large corporations and avoiding parades and firework displays in a show of solidarity against wealth inequality and ICE raids.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 1 July 2025
  • What To Know The People's Union will boycott Amazon, Home Depot and Starbucks throughout this entire month.
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • The first stop is the entryway, featuring a gray stone coffee table and the softest curved furniture, making the atmosphere warm and inviting.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2025
  • Powell arrived to The Wimbledon Championships in a light gray Brunello Cucinelli suit in a subtle woven plaid.
    Elizabeth Grace Coyne, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Elements of her can be found on Lioness in Zoe Saldaña’s Joe McNamara, a CIA operative trying to save the world from the swarthy — terrorists in Season One, Mexican cartels in Season Two — while raising two girls.
    Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Jett Rink was a really malevolent varmint, and kind of swarthy and dark.
    Jeff Conway, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Anton and his second wife adopted Jean sometime during the Depression, but the details are murky.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
  • While the Celtics have made a couple of small additions, the future is still a bit murky.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Black.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on black

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!