Darkness is something we all experience, whether it’s the night falling outside or a hard time we’re going through inside. When things are dark, it can feel mysterious, quiet, or even a little scary. But sometimes, it’s hard to find the right words to describe how dark something really is. That’s where similes come in handy. Similes use the words “like” or “as” to compare one thing to another, helping us show feelings and ideas in a clearer, stronger way.
In this article, we will dive deep into different similes that describe darkness in many ways. Each simile creates a vivid image that helps readers feel exactly how deep, cold, quiet, or endless the darkness can be. You’ll also get a chance to practice using these similes on your own. By the end of this post, you’ll have a powerful set of new ways to describe darkness for stories, poems, or just whenever you want your words to shine!
Similes for Darkness
1. Dark as a moonless night
Meaning: Completely dark, with no light at all.
In a Sentence: The forest was as dark as a moonless night, and I could barely see my own hands.
Other Ways to Say: Black as midnight, Dark as ink
2. Dark as a closed cave
Meaning: Extremely dark and enclosed.
In a Sentence: Inside the abandoned house, it felt as dark as a closed cave swallowing all the light.
Other Ways to Say: Pitch black, Black as coal
3. Dark as a well at midnight
Meaning: Deep, hidden, and completely without light.
In a Sentence: When the power went out, our living room became as dark as a well at midnight.
Other Ways to Say: Deep black, Ominously dark
4. Dark as a stormy sky
Meaning: Gloomy and heavy with darkness.
In a Sentence: The sky before the thunderstorm was as dark as a stormy sky ready to crack open.
Other Ways to Say: Brooding darkness, Heavy with shadows
5. Dark as a black cat at night
Meaning: So dark you can barely see it, blending into the surroundings.
In a Sentence: Her hair looked as dark as a black cat at night, disappearing into the shadows.
Other Ways to Say: Shadow-black, Hidden in darkness
6. Dark as the bottom of the ocean
Meaning: Mysteriously deep and unseen.
In a Sentence: The basement was as dark as the bottom of the ocean, and it made me shiver just to step inside.
Other Ways to Say: Deep darkness, Abyss-like
7. Dark as a closed book
Meaning: Full of unknowns and mysteries.
In a Sentence: His secrets were as dark as a closed book no one had opened in years.
Other Ways to Say: Mysterious, Hidden away
8. Dark as a tunnel with no end
Meaning: Endless and hopeless darkness.
In a Sentence: Walking through that hallway felt as dark as a tunnel with no end, and I couldn’t wait to find the light.
Other Ways to Say: Never-ending darkness, Infinite blackness
9. Dark as a power outage in winter
Meaning: Sudden, chilling darkness.
In a Sentence: The night became as dark as a power outage in winter when the storm knocked out the lights.
Other Ways to Say: Cold darkness, Icy shadows
10. Dark as a witch’s cloak
Meaning: Old, eerie, and full of dark magic.
In a Sentence: The sky during the eclipse was as dark as a witch’s cloak sweeping across the heavens.
Other Ways to Say: Eerily dark, Magical darkness
11. Dark as a crow’s feather
Meaning: Smooth, shiny blackness.
In a Sentence: Her coat was as dark as a crow’s feather gleaming under the faintest bit of light.
Other Ways to Say: Shiny black, Feather-dark
12. Dark as a forgotten cellar
Meaning: Abandoned, dusty, and pitch black.
In a Sentence: The old cabin had a cellar as dark as a forgotten cellar no one dared to enter.
Other Ways to Say: Dusty darkness, Lost in shadows
13. Dark as a thundercloud
Meaning: Thick, heavy darkness filled with energy.
In a Sentence: The sky turned as dark as a thundercloud as the rain started to pour.
Other Ways to Say: Storm-dark, Electric black
14. Dark as the inside of a coffin
Meaning: Morbidly and completely dark.
In a Sentence: Lying alone in the tent, it felt as dark as the inside of a coffin around me.
Other Ways to Say: Dead-dark, Still as death
15. Dark as the woods at midnight
Meaning: Wild, unknown, and full of shadows.
In a Sentence: The campground was as dark as the woods at midnight once the fire went out.
Other Ways to Say: Wildly dark, Forest shadows
16. Dark as a magician’s hat
Meaning: Full of unknown things, mysterious and deep.
In a Sentence: His thoughts seemed as dark as a magician’s hat hiding endless tricks.
Other Ways to Say: Mysteriously dark, Hidden and deep
17. Dark as the inside of a wolf’s den
Meaning: Wild, cold, and shadowy.
In a Sentence: The abandoned barn was as dark as the inside of a wolf’s den on a winter night.
Other Ways to Say: Wild darkness, Animal shadows
18. Dark as the new moon sky
Meaning: Naturally and peacefully black.
In a Sentence: The campsite was as dark as the new moon sky, with no stars peeking out.
Other Ways to Say: Peaceful blackness, Starless night
19. Dark as the ashes after a fire
Meaning: Charred, cold, and gray-dark.
In a Sentence: After the campfire died, everything looked as dark as the ashes left behind.
Other Ways to Say: Cold gray, Burned shadows
20. Dark as a shipwreck under the sea
Meaning: Lost, silent, and deep.
In a Sentence: His eyes were as dark as a shipwreck under the sea, hiding old stories.
Other Ways to Say: Sunken darkness, Forgotten blackness
21. Dark as the back of beyond
Meaning: So far away and deep into darkness that it feels unreachable.
In a Sentence: That road at night looked as dark as the back of beyond, stretching forever.
Other Ways to Say: Distant blackness, Far-off shadows
22. Dark as velvet at midnight
Meaning: Smooth, soft, and rich dark.
In a Sentence: The curtains were as dark as velvet at midnight, blocking every ray of light.
Other Ways to Say: Soft black, Rich dark
23. Dark as a graveyard at midnight
Meaning: Silent, still, and eerie.
In a Sentence: The abandoned park was as dark as a graveyard at midnight after the lights went out.
Other Ways to Say: Eerily quiet, Haunted darkness
24. Dark as forgotten dreams
Meaning: Lost and unreachable.
In a Sentence: The attic was as dark as forgotten dreams gathering dust over the years.
Other Ways to Say: Lost memories, Buried darkness
25. Dark as a shadow’s heart
Meaning: The very essence of darkness.
In a Sentence: His anger grew as dark as a shadow’s heart when he heard the bad news.
Other Ways to Say: Deepest dark, Core darkness
26. Dark as a miner’s tunnel
Meaning: Deep, dangerous, and pitch-black.
In a Sentence: The old subway station was as dark as a miner’s tunnel with no lights.
Other Ways to Say: Dangerous dark, Underground blackness
27. Dark as a raven’s wing
Meaning: Glossy, beautiful, but deeply dark.
In a Sentence: Her dress shimmered as dark as a raven’s wing under the dim lights.
Other Ways to Say: Beautifully dark, Gleaming black
28. Dark as the bottom of a wishing well
Meaning: Deep and unreachable.
In a Sentence: The secrets she kept were as dark as the bottom of a wishing well.
Other Ways to Say: Depthless darkness, Hidden blackness
29. Dark as smoke from a burning log
Meaning: Thick, choking, and black.
In a Sentence: The alley was as dark as smoke from a burning log, swirling and curling in the air.
Other Ways to Say: Smoky blackness, Thick darkness
30. Dark as a night without stars
Meaning: Empty and endlessly black.
In a Sentence: The desert looked as dark as a night without stars stretching on forever.
Other Ways to Say: Starless darkness, Endless black
31. Dark as a catacomb’s tunnel
Meaning: Ancient, creepy, and pitch black.
In a Sentence: The hidden corridor was as dark as a catacomb’s tunnel twisting underground.
Other Ways to Say: Tomb-like darkness, Ancient blackness
32. Dark as a room with shuttered windows
Meaning: Intentionally closed off from light.
In a Sentence: The abandoned classroom was as dark as a room with shuttered windows sealing it off.
Other Ways to Say: Sealed darkness, Trapped in shadows
33. Dark as a wolf’s eyes
Meaning: Mysterious and fierce darkness.
In a Sentence: His stare was as dark as a wolf’s eyes hunting in the woods.
Other Ways to Say: Fierce blackness, Wild darkness
34. Dark as a snake’s hiding hole
Meaning: Twisting, low, and hidden dark.
In a Sentence: The narrow hallway was as dark as a snake’s hiding hole, giving me chills.
Other Ways to Say: Slithering darkness, Hidden shadows
35. Dark as a vampire’s lair
Meaning: Gothic, creepy, and full of ancient darkness.
In a Sentence: The old mansion was as dark as a vampire’s lair, chilling everyone who dared enter.
Other Ways to Say: Gothic blackness, Haunted dark
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- When the power went out during the storm, the house was as dark as a _______.
- Walking through the woods at night felt as dark as a _______.
- The basement was as dark as the _______ with no light anywhere.
- That long hallway was so dark, it felt like a _______ stretching forever.
- After the sunset, the mountains looked as dark as a _______.
- Inside the attic, it was as dark as a _______ with secrets hidden away.
- The abandoned train station was as dark as a _______ underground.
- His thoughts became as dark as a _______ after hearing the news.
- The cellar door creaked open into a space as dark as a _______.
- Camping under a cloudy sky was like sleeping under a _______.
Answers
moonless night, woods at midnight, bottom of a well, tunnel with no end, stormy sky, forgotten cellar, miner’s tunnel, shadow’s heart, snake’s hiding hole, night without stars
Conclusion
Similes are powerful tools that make our descriptions come alive, especially when we want to show something as deep and mysterious as darkness. By comparing darkness to things we already know — like a moonless night, a forgotten cellar, or a snake’s hiding hole — we paint clearer, stronger pictures for readers to feel and imagine.
Whether you’re writing a story, a poem, or just trying to explain a spooky moment to a friend, these similes for darkness can help you express the feeling much more vividly. Keep practicing using them, and soon, describing the darkest moments will feel as easy as flipping a switch off!
