absolute darkness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolute darkness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a complete lack of light or visibility in a particular environment or situation. Example: "As the lights went out, the room was plunged into absolute darkness, making it impossible to see anything."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

As such, the book reflects the absolute darkness of the Holocaust, its unassimilable otherness.

The New Yorker

Conjuring a picture of absolute darkness, it nonetheless casts a beam of light.

The New York Times

Inside we have bright electric lights, but outside is an absolute darkness of mountains and desert.

The New York Times

Picture walking about in freezing, absolute darkness in a place that shrinks and expands, a place where staircases suddenly sink away to bottomless depths or compress to flatness.

The New York Times - Books

Vermeer does something else that is neither photographic nor realistic: he sets her in absolute darkness, somewhere quite different from the homely houses of Delft.

The Guardian

Why do women agree to cloak themselves in "a moving cell without a window or small opening – a space of absolute darkness".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Or an absolute zero - darkness visible, howling silence, the eternal absence of God?

The Guardian

Despite intimations of "Darkness Absolute," of universal nothingness, Mallarmé saw himself to be affirming truths rather than negating them.

The New Yorker

By contrast, P versus NP is relatively young, having been introduced by the University of Toronto mathematical theorist Stephen Cook in 1971, in a paper titled "The complexity of theorem-proving procedures," though it had been touched upon two decades earlier in a letter by Kurt Gödel, whom David Foster Wallace branded "modern math's absolute Prince of Darkness".

The New Yorker

For twilight is short in Malawi, and when night comes, the darkness is absolute.

The Guardian - Travel

That's when the electricity abruptly went out and we simply hugged each other in absolute terror in the darkness.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolute darkness" to create a strong sense of mystery, fear, or isolation in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "absolute darkness" when simply stating it's night or a room is dark; reserve it for moments where the darkness is a significant element of the scene or plot.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "absolute darkness" is as a noun phrase, where "absolute" modifies the noun "darkness". Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

27%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absolute darkness" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a complete lack of light. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it's used across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While synonyms such as "total darkness" and "complete blackness" exist, "absolute darkness" effectively conveys a sense of profound darkness. The phrase is best used when the absence of light is a significant element, evoking mystery, fear, or isolation, rather than in simple descriptions of night or dimly lit spaces. Using "absolute darkness" skillfully can significantly enhance the descriptive power of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complete blackness

Focuses on the absence of light, emphasizing the color.

total darkness

Highlights the completeness of the absence of light.

utter blackness

Emphasizes the thoroughness of the darkness.

pitch black

Uses a common idiom to describe extreme darkness.

unrelieved darkness

Stresses the continuous and unbroken nature of the darkness.

lightless void

Descriptive and emphasizes emptiness.

inky blackness

Compares the darkness to the color of ink.

stygian darkness

Evokes a sense of infernal or profound darkness.

impenetrable darkness

Highlights the inability to see through the darkness.

devoid of light

Focuses on the lack of illumination.

FAQs

How can I use "absolute darkness" in a sentence?

You can use "absolute darkness" to describe a complete absence of light, such as: "The forest was shrouded in "absolute darkness" making it impossible to see the path ahead."

What are some synonyms for "absolute darkness"?

Alternatives to "absolute darkness" include "total darkness", "complete blackness", or "utter darkness". Choose the one that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

Is it correct to say "absolute darkness" or should I use another phrase?

"Absolute darkness" is a perfectly acceptable and grammatically correct phrase to use. However, you could also use alternatives like "total darkness" or "complete darkness" for variety.

What effect does using "absolute darkness" have on the reader?

Using "absolute darkness" can create a sense of mystery, fear, or disorientation for the reader, emphasizing the severity of the lack of light and heightening the tension in a scene.