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View synonyms for darkly

darkly

[ dahrk-lee ]

adverb

  1. so as to appear dark.
  2. vaguely; mysteriously.
  3. in a vaguely threatening or menacing manner:

    He hinted darkly that we had not heard the last of the matter.

  4. imperfectly; faintly.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of darkly1

before 1000; Middle English derkly, Old English deorclīce (in figurative sense only). See dark, -ly

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Example Sentences

Things hit a snag when one of the girls misses a meeting—setting off a narrative that is equal parts thrilling and darkly funny.

From Time

Knowing that Morris’s films were darkly revealing about his subjects, I asked Bob what his capacity for further excoriation and humiliation would be.

From Time

When it comes to the draft, we’re all looking through a glass darkly, and that extends even to the professionals.

Pino and Lobato aren’t what I’d call careful in this lightning-paced thriller, whose tone vacillates between darkly comic and sincerely tragic.

From Time

These are exquisite seances in line with the sonic traditions she pioneered a ­half-century ago, but suffused with the darkly tinted wisdom of a life entering its winter.

He looks at me darkly, as if to blame me for the price of movie tickets.

“Well we have a new parliament and there are no excuses left,” he says darkly.

Smart, so smart, and darkly handsome; a practical joker, large-hearted and fun.

But this season he turns down the wattage, playing a darkly serious role in a play said to be about fly-fishing.

Alan Cumming shimmered darkly and brilliantly as the emcee in the Cabaret performance.

But that sin was of small importance compared to the other revelations, so darkly hinted at by Aunty Rosa.

Marius frowned darkly, but before he could speak, Tressan was insinuating a compliment to the Marquise.

The camphor tree overhead was thrown out darkly against the stars, like its own shadow.

"There may have been reasons," Diana suggested darkly, and Sir Rowland's eyes narrowed at the hint.

I wish I had brought some cotton, Carol commented darkly, for my ears, she added at Janets curious glance.

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