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- Dictionarydim/dɪm/
adjective
- 1. (of a light, colour, or illuminated object) not shining brightly or clearly: "the dim glow of the fire" Similar faintweakfeeblesoftpaledulldingysubduedmutedflatlustrelessinformal:wishy-washyOpposite bright
- ▪ (of an object or shape) made difficult to see by darkness, shade, or distance: "a dim figure in the dark kitchen" Similar indistinctill-definedunclearvagueshadowyimperceptiblenebulousobscuredblurredblurryfuzzyblearyrare:obfuscatedOpposite distinct
- ▪ (of a room or other space) made difficult to see in by darkness: "long dim corridors" Similar darkdarkishsombredingydismalgloomyduskymurkygreyovercastleadencloudymistyfoggybadly litpoorly litill-litunlitunilluminatedliterary:crepusculartenebrousrare:StygianCimmeriancaliginousOpposite bright
- ▪ (of the eyes) unable to see clearly: "his eyes became dim"
- ▪ (of a sound) indistinct or muffled: "the dim drone of their voices"
- 2. not clearly recalled or formulated in the mind: "dim memories" Similar vagueunclearindistinctimpreciseimperfectconfusedsketchyhazyblurredshadowyfoggyobscureremoteOpposite clear
- ▪ (of a situation) not giving cause for hope or optimism: "their prospects for the future looked fairly dim" Similar gloomysombreunpromisingunfavourablediscouragingdishearteningdepressingdispiritingOpposite encouraging
- 3. stupid or slow to understand: informal "you're just incredibly dim" Similar stupidunintelligentignorantdensebrainlessmindlessfoolishdull-witteddullslow-wittedwitlessslowdunce-likesimple-mindedempty-headedvacuousvapidhalf-wittedidioticmoronicimbecilicimbecileobtusedoltishgulliblenaiveinformal:thickdumbdopeydozycrazycretinousbirdbrainedpea-brainedpig-ignorantbovineslow on the uptakesoft in the headbrain-deadboneheadedlamebrainedthickheadedchuckleheadeddunderheadedwoodenwooden-headedfat-headedmuttonheadeddaftbarmynot the full shillingthick as two short planksvulgar slang:dumb-assOpposite intelligentcleverastute
verb
- 1. make or become less bright or distinct: "a smoky inferno that dimmed the sun" Similar grow faintgrow feeblegrow dimfadedullgrow darkdarkenblackencloud overbecome overcastgrow leadenlourbecome gloomyOpposite brighten
- ▪ lower the beam of (a vehicle's headlights) to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers: "the car moved slowly, its headlights dimmed" Similar turn downlowerdipmake dimmake faintmake less brightmake less intensesoftensubduemuteliterary:bedimOpposite turn up
- ▪ make or become less intense: "the difficulty in sleeping couldn't dim her happiness" Similar fadebecome vaguebecome indistinctgrow dimblurbecome blurredbecome shadowybecome confuseddullnumbfaildisappearOpposite sharpen
- ▪ make or become less able to see clearly: "his eyes dimmed"
Word Origin Old Englishdim, dimm, of Germanic origin; related to German dialect timmer.
Derivatives
- 1. dimmable adjective
- 2. dimmish adjective
- 3. dimness noun
Scrabble Points: 6
D
2I
1M
3
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