dusky

adjective

ˈdə-skē 

duskier; duskiest

1

: somewhat dark in color

specifically : having dark skin

2

: marked by slight or deficient light : shadowy

duskily

ˈdə-skə-lē 

adverb

duskiness

ˈdə-skē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• black
• caliginous
• dark
• darkened
• darkish
• darkling
• darksome
• dim
• dimmed
• dusk
• gloomy
• lightless
• murky
• obscure
• obscured
• pitch-black
• pitch-dark
• pitchy
• rayless
• somber
• sombre
• stygian
• tenebrific
• tenebrous
• unlit

Examples of dusky in a Sentence

in the dusky depths of the dungeon

Recent Examples on the Web

Found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and some African countries, spinels come in a range of colors, from vivid blue, pink and red to dusky grey, green and purple. —Sarah Royce-Greensill, CNN, 11 June 2024

For years, my phone background has been a picture of paradise: a lush palm tree looms in the foreground, with glistening turquoise waters and dusky purple islands behind it. —Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2024

Every category is designed with big bathrooms built around giant soaking tubs and verandas for watching the dusky leaf monkeys chasing each other through the canopy. —Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2024

Most of its body is a dusky blue-gray coloring and covered in white spots. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dusky

adjective

ˈdəs-kē 

duskier; duskiest

1

: somewhat dark in color

2

: somewhat dark : dim

a dusky room

duskily

-kə-lē 

adverb

duskiness

-kē-nəs 

noun