His locks were as black as ebony and fell upon his neck which the sun had tanned; but one might have imagined that it was the shadow of his hair that thus darkened the colour of his skin.
Source: tatoeba (6212400)
Ebony
Synonyms for "ebony" (224 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (45)
Noun(3 words)
acaciaailanthusalderalligator pearallspicealmondappleapricotashaspenatramentousavocadobalsabalsambanyanbassbasswoodbaybayberrybeamless
Show 20 more words
beechbeechwoodbetel palmbirchblackblack as coalblack as ebonyblack as inkblack as midnightblack as nightblack raceblacknessbuckeyeburlbutternutbuttonwoodcacaocaliginouscandleberrycashew
Adjective(2 words)
black voidblacker
Strong matches (67)
Related words (112)
larchlaurellemonlimelindenlitchilitchi nutlocustlogwoodmagnoliamahoganymangomangrovemaplemedlarmelanismmidnightmountain ashmulberrynight
Show 78 more words
night-blacknight-cladnight-cloakednight-darknight-enshroudednight-fillednight-mantlednight-veilednigrescencenigritudenigrousnutmegoakobfuscatedobscureobscuredoccultedoliveorangepalmpapawpapayapeachpearpecanpersimmonpinepistachiopitchpitch-blackpitch-darkpitchyplaneplumpomegranatepoplarquinceraffia palmrain treeravenraven-blackraylessredwoodsablesandalwoodsassafrassennasequoiasloesloe-blacksloe-coloredsmokesmutsootsprucestarlesssumacsunlessswarthysycamoretangerinetartar-blacktarryteaktenebrioustenebrosetenebroustreetulip treeunilluminatedunlightedunlitwalnutwillowwitch hazelwoodyew
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: jet black, acacia, ailanthus, alder, alligator pear.
- Sentence evidence is available for ebony, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "ebony".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "ebony"
Keep "ebony" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "ebony" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "ebony", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "ebony" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesMore specific
10 entriesdeep blackebony furnitureebony patinaebony plankebony sheenebony timberebony toneebony veneerglossy blackjet black
Collocations
8 entriesebony colorebony finishebony furnitureebony inlayebony skinebony timberebony veneerebony wood
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
6 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
18 total sentences available.
The moon was low upon the right, and the jagged pinnacle of a granite tor stood up against the lower curve of its silver disc. There, outlined as black as an ebony statue on that shining background, I saw the figure of a man upon the tor.
Source: tatoeba (6620268)
Her eyes were as black as ebony and as deep as the sea.
Source: tatoeba (7344914)
The organ of this cathedral is made of ebony, except the pipes of course.
Source: tatoeba (10899914)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "ebony"?
Closest matches include jet black, acacia, ailanthus, alder, alligator pear.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "ebony"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.