Similes are a powerful tool in writing and conversation. They make descriptions more vivid, relatable, and engaging by comparing one thing to another using “like” or “as.”
They help us paint pictures with words, making concepts easier to understand and connect with. For example, “as brave as a lion” helps describe courage, while “as sharp as a tack” describes intelligence.
This article will explore 45 similes for the word dark, providing examples and offering insight into their meanings.
You’ll also have the opportunity to practice using these similes through engaging exercises.
Unique Similes for Dark
1. As dark as a raven’s wing
- Meaning: Refers to something completely black, as dark as a raven’s glossy feathers.
- Example Sentences:
- “The night was as dark as a raven’s wing, with no stars to light the sky.”
- “The room grew as dark as a raven’s wing when the power went out.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as midnight 🕛
- As dark as coal ⚫
2. As dark as the inside of a tomb
- Meaning: Implies total darkness, like a sealed tomb that doesn’t allow light.
- Example Sentences:
- “The basement was as dark as the inside of a tomb, and I couldn’t see anything.”
- “Her thoughts were as dark as the inside of a tomb, full of hidden fears.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a cave 🦇
- As dark as pitch ⚫
3. As dark as night
- Meaning: Common expression to describe something that is very dark, like the night sky.
- Example Sentences:
- “His mood was as dark as night after hearing the news.”
- “The forest at midnight was as dark as night, with no light visible for miles.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as the moonless sky 🌑
- As dark as the abyss 🌌
4. As dark as a black hole
- Meaning: Refers to an extreme, impenetrable darkness, like a black hole in space.
- Example Sentences:
- “The cave was as dark as a black hole; I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face.”
- “His thoughts were as dark as a black hole, pulling him deeper into despair.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a void 🌑
- As dark as a shadow 🌑
5. As dark as soot
- Meaning: Refers to a very deep, black color, like soot that comes from fire.
- Example Sentences:
- “The chimney was covered in a layer as dark as soot.”
- “Her coat was as dark as soot after the long walk through the storm.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as ink 🖋️
- As dark as burnt wood 🔥
6. As dark as the deepest ocean
- Meaning: A deep, impenetrable darkness, like the ocean’s depths where no light reaches.
- Example Sentences:
- “The night felt as dark as the deepest ocean, with not a single star in sight.”
- “Her thoughts were as dark as the deepest ocean, full of mysteries and unknown fears.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as the abyss 🌊
- As dark as the ocean floor 🌊
7. As dark as a shadow
- Meaning: Refers to something dark and elusive, like a shadow that is hard to define.
- Example Sentences:
- “The alleyway was as dark as a shadow, making me feel uneasy.”
- “His secret was as dark as a shadow, hidden from everyone.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as an eclipse 🌑
- As dark as a ghost 👻
8. As dark as pitch
- Meaning: Very dark, like tar or pitch, which is black and sticky.
- Example Sentences:
- “The forest was as dark as pitch, with only the sounds of creatures around us.”
- “Her heart was as dark as pitch, filled with bitterness and anger.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as charcoal 🔥
- As dark as a burnt match 🕯️
9. As dark as a stormy night
- Meaning: Implies an intense, turbulent kind of darkness, like a stormy night.
- Example Sentences:
- “The sky turned as dark as a stormy night just before the heavy rain began.”
- “His mood was as dark as a stormy night, with no calm in sight.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a thundercloud 🌩️
- As dark as midnight clouds ☁️
10. As dark as a burnt-out lightbulb
- Meaning: Refers to something that is completely devoid of light, like a burnt-out bulb.
- Example Sentences:
- “The room was as dark as a burnt-out lightbulb, not a single spark of light left.”
- “Her expression was as dark as a burnt-out lightbulb, no emotion showing at all.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a closed room 🚪
- As dark as a blackout ⚫
11. As dark as a crow’s feather
- Meaning: Refers to a rich, deep black color, much like a crow’s glossy feathers.
- Example Sentences:
- “The sky was as dark as a crow’s feather, with the moon hidden behind thick clouds.”
- “Her hair was as dark as a crow’s feather, shining in the low light.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as coal ⚫
- As dark as ink 🖋️
12. As dark as a midnight sky
- Meaning: Refers to the deep, inky black of the sky at midnight when it’s void of light.
- Example Sentences:
- “The hallway was as dark as a midnight sky, not a glimmer of light in sight.”
- “The night felt as dark as a midnight sky, full of mystery and unease.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as the moonless sky 🌑
- As dark as a starless night ✨
13. As dark as a foggy night
- Meaning: Describes a dim and obscured darkness, much like fog that hinders visibility.
- Example Sentences:
- “The road ahead was as dark as a foggy night, with only shadows visible.”
- “His mood was as dark as a foggy night, clouded with uncertainty.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a mist 🌫️
- As dark as a twilight haze 🌫️
14. As dark as a wolf’s eyes
- Meaning: A deep, mysterious dark, akin to the intense gaze of a wolf’s eyes in the night.
- Example Sentences:
- “The forest was as dark as a wolf’s eyes, with a sense of danger in the air.”
- “Her gaze was as dark as a wolf’s eyes, filled with secrets and intent.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a panther’s stare 🐆
- As dark as the night in the wild 🌑
15. As dark as the bottom of the ocean
- Meaning: A deep, unfathomable darkness, like the deepest parts of the ocean.
- Example Sentences:
- “The cave felt as dark as the bottom of the ocean, where no light could penetrate.”
- “His thoughts were as dark as the bottom of the ocean, swirling with hidden feelings.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as the abyss 🌊
- As dark as the ocean depths 🌊
16. As dark as a storm cloud
- Meaning: A threatening, ominous kind of darkness, like the heavy clouds before a storm.
- Example Sentences:
- “The sky turned as dark as a storm cloud, signaling the coming rain.”
- “Her mood was as dark as a storm cloud, full of anger and frustration.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as thunderclouds 🌩️
- As dark as a brewing storm ⛈️
17. As dark as a raven’s eye
- Meaning: A rich, dark color, similar to the deep black of a raven’s eye.
- Example Sentences:
- “His eyes were as dark as a raven’s eye, full of mystery.”
- “The night was as dark as a raven’s eye, with no moon in sight.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a black pearl 🦪
- As dark as obsidian 🖤
18. As dark as a forgotten tomb
- Meaning: A sense of neglect and deep darkness, like an old tomb that has been left undisturbed for centuries.
- Example Sentences:
- “The ancient castle was as dark as a forgotten tomb, with dusty corners and unlit rooms.”
- “The mood in the room was as dark as a forgotten tomb, filled with silence and tension.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as an unlit cave 🦇
- As dark as a sealed crypt ⚰️
19. As dark as a night without stars
- Meaning: A featureless, deep darkness, similar to a sky without any stars to provide light.
- Example Sentences:
- “The road was as dark as a night without stars, making it hard to see anything.”
- “Her thoughts were as dark as a night without stars, lost in confusion.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a cloudy sky ☁️
- As dark as the new moon 🌑
20. As dark as the moon’s shadow
- Meaning: Refers to a deep, shadowy dark, much like the moon’s shadow in an eclipse.
- Example Sentences:
- “The eclipse made the world as dark as the moon’s shadow, with only a faint glow around the edges.”
- “His heart was as dark as the moon’s shadow, hidden from the light of joy.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a solar eclipse 🌚
- As dark as a lunar shadow 🌑
21. As dark as a witch’s spell
- Meaning: A magical, foreboding darkness, akin to the power of a witch’s spell.
- Example Sentences:
- “The forest was as dark as a witch’s spell, filled with eerie sounds.”
- “Her words were as dark as a witch’s spell, casting a chilling silence over the group.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a haunted house 🏚️
- As dark as midnight magic 🕯️
22. As dark as a tombstone
- Meaning: Refers to a deathly darkness, like the grave where there is no light.
- Example Sentences:
- “The night was as dark as a tombstone, silent and still.”
- “His eyes were as dark as a tombstone, lifeless and cold.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a graveyard 🪦
- As dark as a coffin ⚰️
23. As dark as a pitch-black ocean
- Meaning: A vast and complete darkness, similar to an ocean that absorbs all light.
- Example Sentences:
- “The sea appeared as dark as a pitch-black ocean under the stormy sky.”
- “Her thoughts were as dark as a pitch-black ocean, lost in an abyss.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as the deep sea 🌊
- As dark as the ocean at night 🌑
24. As dark as an eclipse
- Meaning: A temporary, but complete, darkness similar to the eclipse of the sun or moon.
- Example Sentences:
- “The sky went as dark as an eclipse, blocking out the light for a few minutes.”
- “His soul seemed as dark as an eclipse, hiding its true light.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a shadowed sun 🌞
- As dark as an occluded moon 🌑
25. As dark as burnt sugar
- Meaning: A rich, deep, dark brown, similar to burnt sugar.
- Example Sentences:
- “The cake turned as dark as burnt sugar after being in the oven too long.”
- “The evening sky was as dark as burnt sugar, tinged with deep reds and browns.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as caramel 🍮
- As dark as molasses 🍯
26. As dark as a night with no moon
- Meaning: A total absence of light, like a moonless night sky.
- Example Sentences:
- “The desert felt as dark as a night with no moon, eerily quiet and still.”
- “Her heart was as dark as a night with no moon, filled with sorrow.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as an empty sky 🌌
- As dark as a blacked-out city 🌃
27. As dark as smoke
- Meaning: A dark, billowy mass, often referring to the color of smoke.
- Example Sentences:
- “The room was as dark as smoke, with the air thick and heavy.”
- “Her eyes were as dark as smoke, full of mystery and intrigue.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as ash 🔥
- As dark as soot 🖤
28. As dark as the shade of a tree
- Meaning: Refers to the dim, cool darkness found under the shade of a tree.
- Example Sentences:
- “The garden grew as dark as the shade of a tree when the sun went down.”
28. As dark as the shade of a tree
- Meaning: Refers to the dim, cool darkness found under the shade of a tree.
- Example Sentences:
- “The garden grew as dark as the shade of a tree when the sun went down.”
- “Her mood was as dark as the shade of a tree, hidden beneath a canopy of thoughts.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a forest at dusk 🌲
- As dark as the underbrush 🌿
29. As dark as burnt wood
- Meaning: A deep, charcoal-like darkness, similar to the color of charred wood.
- Example Sentences:
- “The remains of the fire were as dark as burnt wood, still smoldering with heat.”
- “The old house had walls as dark as burnt wood, scorched by time and neglect.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a charred log 🔥
- As dark as scorched earth 🌍
30. As dark as a bat’s cave
- Meaning: A deep, oppressive darkness, similar to the caves where bats dwell.
- Example Sentences:
- “The abandoned mansion was as dark as a bat’s cave, with only the echo of footsteps.”
- “The cave felt as dark as a bat’s cave, the walls pressing in on all sides.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a bat’s den 🦇
- As dark as a cave without a light 💡
31. As dark as a shadow under a cloud
- Meaning: A soft, muted darkness created by a shadow cast under a cloud.
- Example Sentences:
- “The alley was as dark as a shadow under a cloud, cool and foreboding.”
- “Her heart was as dark as a shadow under a cloud, burdened with sorrow.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as an overcast sky ☁️
- As dark as a passing storm ⛈️
32. As dark as the silence of the night
- Meaning: A quiet, heavy darkness, like the stillness that envelops everything at night.
- Example Sentences:
- “The streets were as dark as the silence of the night, untouched and eerie.”
- “His thoughts were as dark as the silence of the night, full of unanswered questions.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as the hush before dawn 🌅
- As dark as a silent void 🕳️
33. As dark as the secrets of the deep
- Meaning: A mysterious, hidden darkness, like the unknown depths of the ocean.
- Example Sentences:
- “The forest was as dark as the secrets of the deep, hiding everything within its shadows.”
- “His intentions were as dark as the secrets of the deep, impossible to decipher.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as the ocean’s abyss 🌊
- As dark as a deep cave 🦇
34. As dark as a vampire’s lair
- Meaning: A dark, chilling place, similar to where vampires hide from the sun.
- Example Sentences:
- “The basement was as dark as a vampire’s lair, with no windows and only shadows.”
- “The mood in the room was as dark as a vampire’s lair, tense and full of unease.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as a crypt ⚰️
- As dark as Dracula’s castle 🏰
35. As dark as the deep side of the moon
- Meaning: A profound, unexplainable darkness, like the far side of the moon that we cannot see.
- Example Sentences:
- “The mood was as dark as the deep side of the moon, mysterious and full of unspoken thoughts.”
- “The night felt as dark as the deep side of the moon, like something was lurking out of sight.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As dark as the dark side of the moon 🌑
- As dark as an unseen world 🌍
Simile Practice Exercise:
1. Complete the Sentences
Fill in the blanks by completing each sentence using one of the dark-related similes from the list. Try to make the sentence match the context and meaning.
- “The room was as dark as ________, and I could barely see my hand in front of my face.”
- “Her thoughts were as dark as ________, clouded by uncertainty.”
- “The alleyway felt as dark as ________, the shadows stretching far and wide.”
- “The sky before the storm was as dark as ________, threatening rain.”
- “The mood in the meeting was as dark as ________, and no one dared speak.”
2. Create Your Own Similes
Write your own similes for darkness! Think about different situations (e.g., a dark night, a dim room, a sad mood) and come up with a simile that fits the context. Here are a few prompts to get you started:
- “The mood was as dark as ________.”
- “The night sky was as dark as ________.”
- “The deep forest felt as dark as ________.”
3. Match Similes to Meanings
Below are some similes. Match each one with the correct meaning:
- Similes:
- As dark as a shadow under a cloud
- As dark as burnt wood
- As dark as the secrets of the deep
- As dark as a vampire’s lair
- As dark as the deep side of the moon
- Meanings:
- a) Something mysterious or hidden, difficult to understand.
- b) An unsettling, ominous place that feels cold and distant.
- c) A deep, oppressive darkness with a sense of something unseen.
- d) A darkness that’s profound and hidden from sight, unreachable.
- e) A gloom that hangs around, especially before or during an ominous event.
4. Write a Short Story Using Similes
Write a short story (around 200-300 words) that incorporates at least five of the dark-related similes. Try to use them in different contexts: describing a setting, an emotional state, or a character’s experience. Here’s a prompt to get you started:
- “On a stormy night, a young girl walks into an old, abandoned mansion. She feels something strange in the air. The house is as dark as ________. As she steps inside, her thoughts become as dark as ________, and the silence in the house is as dark as ________.”
Answer Key for Matching Similes Exercise:
- As dark as a shadow under a cloud → e) A gloom that hangs around, especially before or during an ominous event.
- As dark as burnt wood → b) An unsettling, ominous place that feels cold and distant.
- As dark as the secrets of the deep → a) Something mysterious or hidden, difficult to understand.
- As dark as a vampire’s lair → c) A deep, oppressive darkness with a sense of something unseen.
- As dark as the deep side of the moon → d) A darkness that’s profound and hidden from sight, unreachable.
Reflection:
- How did using different similes for dark change the tone of your sentences or story?
- Which simile did you find most effective in conveying a certain emotion or atmosphere?
