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dap·pled adjective : marked with small spots or patches contrasting with the background

Synonyms

mottled, piebald, pied, spotted—more at PIED

mottled, spotted, spotty, variegated—more at SPOTTED

DAR abbreviation Daughters of the American Revolution

1dare verb dared; dar·ing 1 : to have sufficient courage : be bold enough to

2 : to challenge to perform an action esp. as a proof of courage

3 : to confront boldly

Synonyms

[2] challenge, defy—more at CHALLENGE

[3] beard, brave, brazen, confront, defy, face—more at FACE

2dare noun : an act or instance of daring : CHALLENGE

dare·dev·il noun : a recklessly bold person

— daredevil adjective

1daring adjective : venturesomely bold in action or thought

— dar·ing·ly adverb

Synonyms

adventurous, audacious, bold, enterprising, gutsy, hardy, nervy, venturesome—more at BOLD

2daring noun : venturesome boldness

Synonyms

bravery, courage, fearlessness, gallantry, guts, hardihood, heart, heroism, nerve, stoutness, valor—more at COURAGE

1dark adjective 1 : being without light or without much light

2 : not light in color

3 a : showing or causing gloom or depression : GLOOMY

b : lacking knowledge or culture

4 : not clear to the understanding

5 often cap : being a period of stagnation or decline

6 : tending to keep secrets or to act secretly : SECRETIVE

— dark·ly adverb

Synonyms

[1] darkling, dim, dusky, gloomy, murky, obscure, somber; also sunless; cloudy, dull, dulled, lackluster; shadowy, shady; gray, leaden, pale

Antonyms

bright, brightened, brilliant, illuminated, illumined, light, lighted, lucent, lucid, luminous

[3b] ignorant, illiterate, simple, uneducated, unlearned, untaught—more at IGNORANT

[4] ambiguous, cryptic, darkling, deep, enigmatic, equivocal, inscrutable, murky, mysterious, mystic, nebulous, obscure, occult—more at OBSCURE

2dark noun 1 a : a place or time of little or no light

b : absence of light : DARKNESS; especially : NIGHT

2 : a dark or deep color

— in the dark

1 : in secrecy

2 : in ignorance

Synonyms

[1a, b] darkness, dusk, gloaming, gloom, murk, night, semidarkness, shade, shadow, twilight; also blackout, brownout; dullness; cloudiness, haziness, mistiness, murkiness; dimness, faintness, gloominess, grayness, paleness

Antonyms

blaze, brightness, brilliance, day, daylight, glare, glow, light, lightness

dark·en verb 1 a : to make or grow dark or darker

b : to make or become less clear : DIM

3 : BESMIRCH, TARNISH

4 : to make or become gloomy or forbidding

Synonyms

[1a, b] becloud, befog, blur, cloud, dim, fog, haze, mist, obscure, overcast, overshadow, shroud—more at CLOUD

[4] gloom, glower, lower; also frown, scowl; glare, stare; brood, mope, pout, sulk; anger, fume, rage, steam, intimidate, menace, threaten

Antonyms

brighten, cheer (up), lighten, perk (up)

dark horse noun : a contestant or a political figure whose abilities and chances as a contender are not known

dark·ling adjective 1 : DARK: as

a : devoid or partially devoid of light

b : not clear to the understanding : MYSTERIOUS

2 : done or taking place in the dark

Synonyms

ambiguous, cryptic, dark, deep, enigmatic, equivocal, inscrutable, murky, mysterious, mystic, nebulous, obscure, occult—more at OBSCURE

dark·ness noun : the quality or state of being dark

Synonyms

dark, dusk, gloaming, gloom, murk, night, semidarkness, shade, shadow, twilight—more at DARK

ambiguity, murkiness, obscurity, opacity—more at OBSCURITY

dark·room noun : a lightproof room in which photographic materials are processed

1darling noun 1 : a dearly loved person

2 : one that is treated or regarded with special favor or liking : FAVORITE

Synonyms

[1] beloved, dear, flame, honey, love, sweet, sweetheart—more at SWEETHEART

[2] favorite, minion, pet, preference—more at FAVORITE

2darling adjective 1 : dearly loved : FAVORITE

2 : very pleasing : CHARMING

Synonyms

[1] adorable, dear, endearing,