inky

[ ing-kee ]

adjective

, ink·i·er, ink·i·est.

1. black as ink:

   inky shadows.

2. resembling ink:

   The solution was an inky liquid.

3. stained with ink:

   inky fingers.

4. of or relating to ink.
5. consisting of or containing ink.
6. written with ink.

inky

/ ˈɪŋkɪ /

adjective

1. resembling ink, esp in colour; dark or black
2. of, containing, or stained with ink

   inky fingers

Derived Forms

• ˈinkiness, noun

Other Words From

• inki·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inky¹

First recorded in 1575–85; ink + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Even when you remove the bright stars, the glowing dust and other nearby points of light from the inky, dark sky, a background glow remains.

From Science News

Deep below the ocean—3,000 feet beneath the surface, where sunlight cannot seep—the sea is smothered in a cold, inky darkness.

From Popular-Science

GREAT VALUE“Di notte” means “of the night,” which leads to a dark, brooding label, and also a dark inky wine.

From Washington Post

The night skies here are extra inky, and to take advantage of them Under Canvas offers “Stargazer” tents with plexiglass windows in the ceiling.

From Outside Online

Below me, surrounding the cone, was an enormous inky expanse aptly named the Fantastic Lava Beds.

From Outside Online

Walker makes it to his back door and gingerly steps into the inky night.

From The Daily Beast

The male blackbird resumed his perch, his inky feathers drying in the bright sun as he continued his vigil.

From The Daily Beast

He could see only the inky silhouettes of armed men moving below.

From The Daily Beast

Palin, who is as likely to be running a scam as running for president, has Republicans in the inky plam of her hand.

From The Daily Beast

Other dark choices include Jet, Bruno, Bear, Sable, Midnight, Inky, and Ebony.

From The Daily Beast

The gloom of approaching night was deepened by the inky clouds that obscured the sky.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon the summit of the great keep a huge bonfire had sprung up, and the tall flames leaped toward the inky heavens.

From Project Gutenberg

As for the plodding, inky sycophants who fawned upon Mr. Cray's informativeness, Michael regarded them with horror and contempt.

From Project Gutenberg

Even as he looked at it, the torch went out, shutting him into inky blackness.

From Project Gutenberg

He tied an inky tablecloth to her shoulders to serve as a sweeping garment.

From Project Gutenberg