stygian

adjective

ˈsti-j(ē-)ən How to pronounce stygian (audio)
Definition of stygiannext
as in darkened
being without light or without much light lost in the stygian reaches of the deep forest

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 stygian On the credit side of the ledger, the stygian interior decor is brightened at night by the neonesque instrument and secondary-control lighting—blue and red—and the cabin is commendably quiet at most operating speeds. — Tony Swan, Car and Driver, 3 June 2023 In the last half of 1934, glimmers of daylight peaked through the stygian blackness and, and 1935, the downward trajectory began to reverse itself and tick upward. — Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2023 Predators that eat the banana-sized birds include peregrine falcons, stygian owls and arboreal snakes. — Jill Langlois, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Feb. 2023 Did this rodent revenant cross a stygian void to haunt us yet again? — Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2022 Streaks should start cutting through the stygian sky starting at midnight. — Joe Mario Pedersen, orlandosentinel.com, 11 Aug. 2021 When his tiny friend Trinket devises a scheme for their escape from the orphanage, Arthur embarks on a quest through a wild wood and into the stygian corridors of a subterranean city to solve the mystery of his origins. — Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 29 Sep. 2017 After a five-minute ride through the stygian darkness, the barge eases up to a low dock. — Wayne Curtis, WIRED, 30 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stygian
  1. darkened
  2. dark
  3. murky
  4. black
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
  • Nordic drama is still often associated internationally with crime, darker tones and a certain visual restraint.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Campaign images show close-fitting cycling jerseys paired with dark shorts, with prints ranging from yellow-green graphics to blue-and-white patterns.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of 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
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

Browse Nearby Words

sty
stygian
style
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Cite this Entry

“Stygian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stygian. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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