blacken
verb
black·en ˈbla-kən 
blackened; blackening ˈblak-niŋ
ˈbla-kə-
intransitive verb
: to become dark or black
the sky blackens
transitive verb
1
: to make black
2
: defame, sully
blackened her reputation
blackener
ˈblak-nər
noun ˈbla-kə-
Synonyms
- befoul
- begrime
- bemire
- besmirch
- daub
- dirty
- distain [archaic]
- foul
- gaum [dialect]
- grime
- mire
- muck
- muddy
- smirch
- smudge
- soil
- stain
- sully
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Fire had blackened the field. The sky blackened as the storm approached. Their false accusations failed to blacken my reputation. a presidency blackened by scandal
Recent Examples on the Web Using tongs, rotate them and broil until the peppers blacken all around. 
G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 The smoke from the prescribed burns would blacken the ground and cause concern about the town’s appearance. AZCentral.com, 23 June 2022 Place unpeeled garlic cloves in skillet toast until skin begins to blacken in places, 10 minutes. Kathleen Squires, WSJ, 16 June 2022 Mark Werksman, his defense lawyer, argued Wednesday that the witnesses would confuse the jury and serve merely to blacken his reputation. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 11 May 2022 At the same time, in a somewhat obvious parallel, Nang’s father’s toe begins to blacken with gangrene that threatens to creep up his leg. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 22 Sep. 2021 For years, Williams has worn sunglasses at all hours, as if to blacken her vision. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2021 Because of the high sugar content, the blends will blacken and burn into the meat if left too long in the grill or in the oven. Chuck Blount, San Antonio Express-News, 14 Sep. 2021 Even though the Forest Service had a crew on-scene on the first day, the East Fork Fire would wind up burning for 3½ months and blacken about 90,000 acres of the Ashley National Forest and neighboring tribal lands. Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 July 2021 See More
G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 The smoke from the prescribed burns would blacken the ground and cause concern about the town’s appearance. AZCentral.com, 23 June 2022 Place unpeeled garlic cloves in skillet toast until skin begins to blacken in places, 10 minutes. Kathleen Squires, WSJ, 16 June 2022 Mark Werksman, his defense lawyer, argued Wednesday that the witnesses would confuse the jury and serve merely to blacken his reputation. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 11 May 2022 At the same time, in a somewhat obvious parallel, Nang’s father’s toe begins to blacken with gangrene that threatens to creep up his leg. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 22 Sep. 2021 For years, Williams has worn sunglasses at all hours, as if to blacken her vision. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2021 Because of the high sugar content, the blends will blacken and burn into the meat if left too long in the grill or in the oven. Chuck Blount, San Antonio Express-News, 14 Sep. 2021 Even though the Forest Service had a crew on-scene on the first day, the East Fork Fire would wind up burning for 3½ months and blacken about 90,000 acres of the Ashley National Forest and neighboring tribal lands. Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 July 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Kids Definition
blacken
verb
black·en ˈbla-kən
blackened; blackening
1
: to make or become dark or black The storm blackened the sky.
2
: spoil entry 1 sense 2
The scandal will blacken his reputation.
blacken
verb
1
as in to stain
to make dirty blackened the towels with their dirty hands Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stain
- dirty
- besmirch
- sully
- smudge
- soil
- muck
- mess
- muddy
- smirch
- daub
- pollute
- grime
- contaminate
- befoul
- taint
- discolor
- gaum
- mire
- foul
- begrime
- bemire
- defile
- distain
- disarrange
- disorder
- dishevel
- muddle
- confuse
- jumble
- disarray
- colly
- draggle
- crock
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clean
- cleanse
- purify
- purge
- wipe
- decontaminate
- disinfect
- wash
- sanitize
- brighten
- brush
- sweep
- renew
- scrub
- rinse
- launder
- freshen
- scour
- dust
- mop
- deodorize
- spruce (up)
- straighten (up)
- dry-clean
- tidy (up)
2
as in to smear
to make untrue and harmful statements about the politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation Synonyms & Similar Words
- smear
- libel
- humiliate
- malign
- slander
- defame
- vilify
- disgrace
- discredit
- calumniate
- asperse
- denigrate
- disparage
- traduce
- belittle
- shame
- detract
- dishonor
- degrade
- humble
- debase
- disdain
- scorn
- abase
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- honor
- exalt
- glorify
- commend
- applaud
- respect
- praise
- admire
- regard
- esteem
- worship
- adore
- acclaim
- revere
- venerate
3
as in to darken
to make dark, dim, or indistinct thick smoke from the forest fires blackened the sky for many miles Synonyms & Similar Words
- darken
- obscure
- blur
- dim
- overshadow
- cloud
- becloud
- shroud
- shadow
- blear
- mist
- fog
- haze
- bedim
- overcast
- conceal
- obliterate
- overcloud
- hide
- befog
- shade
- eclipse
- dislimn
- cover
- fuzz (up)
- mask
- screen
- blot out
- cloak
- adumbrate
- camouflage
- disguise
- curtain
- veil
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lighten
- brighten
- illuminate
- expose
- light (up)
- reveal
- illumine
- uncover
- unveil
4
as in to dusk
to grow dark the auditorium blackened suddenly, and a spotlighted performer appeared alone on stage Synonyms & Similar Words
- darken
- dusk
- fade
- black out
- dim
- close in
- wane
- gloom
- lour
- lower
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lighten
- light
- brighten
- shine
- glow
- beam
- dawn
- radiate