pitch-black

adjective

ˈpich-ˈblak How to pronounce pitch-black (audio)
Definition of pitch-blacknext
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light finding anything in a pitch-black room is almost impossible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in black
having the color of soot or coal a pitch-black cat with green eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pitch-black As the duo row through pitch-black darkness toward the flame, John experiences harrowing visions of his father and of his younger self, revealed to be an effect of the fear toxin lingering in the air. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026 Teamed with pitch-black talons and purple lips, the short hairdo added a futuristic feel to the front row. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026 Distant lights – maybe car lights or fireflies – dance across a pitch-black night scene. — John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 Why a seemingly pilotless drone shows up to beckon Ella into a pitch-black parking garage? — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pitch-black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitch-black
  1. darkened
  2. black
  3. dark
  4. pitch-dark
  5. murky
Adjective
  • Around them stand darkened houses, and uncollected trash piles up on the street.
    — Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
  • This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • The march leader’s message echoed out from a black megaphone as the crowd pushed along Capitol Boulevard.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The inside food contact surface of the ice machine had an accumulation of black organic buildup.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of black
Adjective
  • In these situations, withdrawing into a literal or symbolic dark room—avoiding sources of stress and going to a safe place—can be adaptive in the short term.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Connie Britton and Sam Nivola lead the series created by Nick Paley that blends mystery, dark comedy and the awkwardness of adolescence.
    — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • Three weeks before filming was to commence on Bad Lieutenant, Abel Ferrara‘s pitch-dark 1992 crime masterpiece, the director had a problem.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The music is quiet but powerful, blending pitch-dark tones and sunny melodies in ways that can recall Elliott Smith, Joanna Newsom, and Animal Collective, among other left-field heroes.
    — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026
Definition of pitch-dark
Adjective
  • Destructive storms like Hurricane Milton in 2024, which made landfall on Florida’s west coast at Siesta Key, can destroy traps, make the water murky and otherwise cause complications for fishermen.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The evidence is murkier than the common talking point suggests.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of murky

Browse Nearby Words

pitch
pitch-black
pitch-dark
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pitch-black.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitch-black. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All