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Glite Dictionary
swarthy

swarthy

7 7.3
Having naturally dark skin
  • adjective
  • /ˈswɔrði/
translation icon : moreno
  • His complexion was swarthy, and his hair was as black as oil and straight.

Is is is Wilson as as swarthy and misogynistic as he sounds?

Examples

  • "The cabdriver, a swarthy man in a conical wool cap, looked around at the words.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The fisherman, a swarthy old man with steel rings in his ears, pointed wordlessly.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • In my mind I see her with someone perhaps... ...more swarthy, darker.

    The Proposal (2009)

  • The driver is simple and swarthy, and the businessman is more sophisticated.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • And later, no matter how hard we looked for the swarthy driver in the city, we couldn't find him.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • "That's what I get for being late." Baxter was a large man with swarthy skin and flowing white hair.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Lois Cayley, at 21, had crisp black hair, large dark eyes, and a swarthy complexion.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Morgan's gaze shifted upstream where Hauser stood with another man, a swarthy Spaniard who looked somewhat familiar.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Lois Cayley, at 21, had crisp black hair, large dark eyes, and a swarthy complexion.

  • His complexion was swarthy, and his hair was as black as oil and straight.

Synonyms

dark
vsswarthy
588 1.0

Having a deep brown or nearly black color

is limited to natural skin color rather than general color or features
dark-skinned
vsswarthy
13 2.2

A person who has naturally dark skin

is a single-word adjective often seen as more literary
dusky
vsswarthy
3 5.4

Having naturally dark skin

is more neutral and direct when referring to dark skin
dark-colored
vsswarthy
  • US
1 1.3

Having a dark shade, like deep blue or black

refers specifically to natural human complexion rather than any dark color
darkish
vsswarthy
1 2.0

A little less light in color than usual

indicates a definite natural dark complexion rather than a mild shade
swart
vsswarthy
  • Archaic
9.9

Having dark skin

is the modern term for the same natural dark complexion
dusky-colored
vsswarthy
5.5

Having a soft dark color like the sky at dusk

is specific to human complexion rather than general colored objects

Antonyms

fair
191 1.0

Pleasant to look at, often with light hair or skin

How Dark

swarthy
7 7.3
tanned
11 1.0
fair
191 1.0

Surface Forms

swarthy positive

Morphology

swarthy = swart (semi-transparent) = swart + y

Formed by the regular suffix '-y' on the adjective 'swart', but 'swart' is archaic/rare so learners may not recognize the base.

Etymology

The word swarthy comes from an old English word sweart that meant 'black' or 'dark'. So swarthy was used for people with dark or sun-browned skin and still means someone has a naturally dark skin color.