1
as in to stain
to make dirty
blackened the towels with their dirty hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to libel
to make untrue and harmful statements about
the politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blacken
The wrap varieties are differentiated by the sauce, which comes in classic, spicy, or blackened Ranch flavors.
—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Inside, boards blackened by smoke and sweat, the air sweet with cane and forgetting.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Broil close to heat until blackened and blistered, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
—
Rick Bayless,
Midwest Living,
13 May 2026
And one track prominently features a country singer, a drastic departure from the usual Fire-Toolz mélange of screensaver EDM, Hypercolor death metal, blackened new age, and copious other mutant genres that usually don’t mix.
—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for blacken
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Inside, boards blackened by smoke and sweat, the air sweet with cane and forgetting.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Broil close to heat until blackened and blistered, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
—
Rick Bayless,
Midwest Living,
13 May 2026
And one track prominently features a country singer, a drastic departure from the usual Fire-Toolz mélange of screensaver EDM, Hypercolor death metal, blackened new age, and copious other mutant genres that usually don’t mix.
—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for blacken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blacken
Verb
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Semi-sheer, marbled accent nails look like they’ve been stained with blackberry juice.
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Dressing up for warmer weather can be a challenge since plush fabrics like silk can easily stain and aren’t as breathable.
Verb
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The restaurant sources its birotes from Duran’s to make the open-face, bean and cheese-smeared breakfast sandwiches popular throughout Mexico.
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That slows down the process of multiple shockwaves merging into larger ones and allows the atmosphere to weaken the smaller shockwaves to smear out the sharp pressure change into a more gradual increase.
Verb
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Auto-correct tools generally brighten photos, but this one also knows when an image needs darkening.
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Its most dramatic attack occurred last week, when hundreds of drones overwhelmed Moscow’s air defenses and hit refineries and storage tanks, sending up black plumes of smoke that darkened the sky.
Verb
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The spoon even comes with measuring lines for a teaspoon and tablespoon, saving you from having to dirty another utensil.
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But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.
Verb
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Israel must leave humiliated and defeated — and that is exactly what will happen.
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Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.
Verb
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The irony is a bit hard to ignore — the very environment being modified to protect or maintain beaches was simultaneously obscuring the ecological processes happening just offshore.
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And what’s a novelist but a fence, furnishing imaginary scenes with choice pieces of reality while obscuring their provenance?
Verb
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In her response, Hajdini cast Rana as manipulative and deceitful, intent on ruining her life and besmirching her employer through his sensational accusations.
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Bryna Laub, editor of Daytime Serial Newsletter, felt the show besmirched the sanctity of soaps and contributed to the broader currents of shame surrounding the genre.
Verb
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As Americans live longer and spend more years managing chronic illness, cognitive decline and complex healthcare needs, the traditional boundaries between estate planning, financial planning and healthcare planning are beginning to blur.
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Coleman, himself a musician, has intentionally blurred the lines between brewing and performance.
Cite this Entry
“Blacken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blacken. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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