blacken

blacken

verb

Definition of BLACKEN

1

to make dirty <blackened the towels with their dirty hands>

Synonyms befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, daub, distain [archaic], foul, gaum [dialect], grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully

Related Words contaminate, defile, pollute, taint; discolor; confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle; colly [chiefly British dialect], crock [dialect]

Near Antonyms decontaminate, purge, purify; disinfect, sanitize; brush, dry-clean, dust, launder, mop, rinse, scour, scrub, sweep, wash, wipe; brighten, deodorize, freshen, renew, spruce (up); straighten (up), tidy (up)

Antonyms clean, cleanse

2

to make untrue and harmful statements about <the politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation>

Synonyms asperse, blacken, calumniate, defame, libel, malign, smear, traduce, vilify

Related Words belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage; discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame; abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate; disdain, scorn

Near Antonyms exalt, glorify, honor; acclaim, applaud, commend, praise; esteem, respect; admire, regard; adore, revere, venerate, worship

3

to make dark, dim, or indistinct <thick smoke from the forest fires blackened the sky for many miles>

Synonyms becloud, bedim, befog, blacken, blear, blur, darken, dim, dislimn, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, obscure, overcast, overcloud, overshadow, shadow, shroud

Related Words adumbrate, blot out, conceal, eclipse, hide, obliterate, screen, shade; camouflage, cloak, cover, curtain, disguise, mask, veil

Near Antonyms expose, reveal, uncover, unveil

Antonyms brighten, illuminate, illumine, light (up), lighten

4

to grow dark <the auditorium blackened suddenly, and a spotlighted performer appeared alone on stage>

Synonyms blacken, black out, close in, dusk

Related Words dim, fade, wane; gloom, lower (also lour)

Near Antonyms dawn; beam, glow, radiate, shine

Antonyms brighten, light, lighten