darkly
English · Thesaurus
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darkly¹
- /ˈdɑːkli/ UK
- /ˈdɑɹkli/ US
Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)kli
Where it comes from
From Middle English derkly, derkely, derkliche, derkeliche; equivalent to dark + -ly. Compare Old English deorclīċe, a parallel formation.
adverb darklier · more darkly · darkliest · most darkly
- With insufficient light for easy discernment or comprehension. I could make out his image darkly.
- With a dark appearance. And still when loudliest howls the storm, / And darkliest lowers his native sky, / The king's fierce soul is in that form, / The warrior's spirit threatens nigh!
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In a manner which is not readily visible or noticeable; inconspicuously.
Set defenses permitted a coach to plan an attack with scant worry as to where he would find the offensive men. So our Tom Reilly schemed darkly and came up with the attack which pried apart the Brown Bowlers. His scheme was to double team every man in the defensive line by employing one back as an e
Similar: anonymously, obscurely, unapparently, unnoticeably
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In a manner which retards or prevents discernment; clandestinely.
His secret wooing of the Norman lady who was so proud and stately was very dear to him, and the romance of it pleased him even more than the mere material joys he hoped some day to gain from it. Proud as she was, womanlike she at least deigned to listen to him, and his crafty brain schemed darkly to
Similar: covertly, furtively, inconspicuously, secretly, stealthily, surreptitiously
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In a manner which is difficult to understand, or which retards or prevents understanding; incomprehensibly.
Secondly, The Covenant was then revealed more darkly and obſcurely, but now the diſpenſation of it, is more cleare and evident: the light is now marvellous, it is as the Sunne ſhining at noone-day. […] Though it was revealed before, yet it was but darkly, but now it is revealed more clearly ſince th
Similar: fathomlessly, inscrutably, mysteriously, obscurely, vaguely
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In a manner which tends to produce uncertainty or confusion; bewilderingly.
Here, as Genevieve sat musing, in apparent slumber, on her situation of peril, and her hope of liberty, her sentinels, who had hitherto walked at a surly distance from her, now chanced to pass nearer; and she heard one of them say, “She sleeps, thou need'st not whisper; -I tell thee it must be done
Similar: bafflingly, perplexingly, puzzlingly
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In a manner which produces an inward conviction of future misfortune; ominously.
But the God I had cried to answer me / When my destiny darkliest frowned, / And He showed me a reef of rocks in the sea, / Whereunto I clung, and there I found / On a coral jag the goblet of gold, / Which else to the lowermost crypt had rolled.
Similar: forebodingly, threateningly
- In a morbid manner; morbidly, sinisterly. a darkly comic dystopian drama
darkly²
- /ˈdɑːkli/ UK
- /ˈdɑɹkli/ US
Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)kli
Where it comes from
From Middle English derkely, equivalent to dark + -ly.
adjective darklier · more darkly · darkliest · most darkly
- Relating to darkness or obscurity. A Scanner Darkly
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: in darkness, strongly, heavily, highly, gloomily, somberly, grimly, murkily, dimly, bleakly, menacingly, ominously, shadowily, blackly, obscurely, sinisterly
Translations
Every language
adv mysteriously; forebodingly, ominously — see also mysteriously, ominously
| Español | misteriosamente |
|---|---|
| Français | mystérieusement |
| Italiano | misteriosamente, oscuramente, tenebrosamente |
| Ελληνικά | μυστηριωδώς mystiriodós |
adv with a dark appearance
| Français | obscurément, sombrement |
|---|---|
| Italiano | cupamente, oscuramente, tenebrosamente |
| Русский | мра́чно mráčno, нея́сно nejásno, темно́ temnó, зло́бно zlóbno |
Talk about this word "darkly." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/darkly. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. darkly. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/darkly "darkly." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/darkly.Cite this
@misc{darkly_2026,
title = {darkly},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/darkly},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
