swarthy

American  

[swawr-thee, -thee] / ˈswɔr ði, -θi /

adjective

swarthier, swarthiest

1. (of skin color, complexion, etc.) dark.

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swarthy British  

/ ˈswɔːðɪ /

adjective

1. dark-hued or dark-complexioned

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Other Word Forms

• swarthily adverb
• swarthiness noun

Etymology

Origin of swarthy

First recorded in 1570–80; unexplained variant of obsolete swarty ( swart + -y ¹ )

Explanation

Swarthy means dark skinned. If you like tall, dark and handsome men, you find a swarthy complexion attractive. Not everyone with dark skin is swarthy. The word is usually used to describe someone whose skin is weather beaten and darkened by the sun, or has an olive complexion. But the famous 19th-century American poet Walt Whitman, who was of English and Dutch stock, seemed to be describing himself in his poem "Behold This Swarthy Face," so swarthy may be in the eyes of the beholder.

Example Sentences

"You miss Russell Crowe, but Mescal is always watchable, with a stocky, swarthy, brooding presence," he added in the four-star review.

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2024

He turned down the offer of professional makeup, which left him perspiring and with a swarthy five o’clock shadow under the studio’s bright lights.

From Washington Post • Sep. 17, 2019

In his Panama hat, his salmon three-piece suit, with his thick mustache, his swarthy olive skin, he looked like one of those national-costume dolls our island tías kept in a cabinet.

From New York Times • Oct. 15, 2018

His hair was black; his eyes were black; his complexion was swarthy.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 3, 2016

He was swarthy, dark haired, and one of those men who always look as if they need a shave no matter what the time of day.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy