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, 

ˈbla-kə- 

noun

Synonyms of blacken

• stain
• dirty
• besmirch
• sully

Examples of blacken in a Sentence

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

In the second, a custom coffee table with a coromandel floral top is complemented by a sculptural bronze volumetric chair by Voukenas Petrides and a custom Leather Stax blackened bronze lamp by Marino. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 19 Nov. 2025

During a Senate Finance Committee hearing in Juneau this spring, Morrison presented lawmakers with a giant light bulb, blackened by a short in the electrical wiring in the school's gymnasium ceiling. —Emily Schwing, NPR, 17 Nov. 2025

The walls appear blackened with smoke and heat marks, and the glass of the windows smashed. —Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025

The footage from drone cameras shows a large area of industrial Louisville charred and blackened from smoke and fire damage. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English blaknen, blakenen, from blak black entry 1 + -n, -en -en entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for blacken

• bracken
• lakin
• slacken

Kids Definition

blacken

verb

black·​en ˈblak-ən 

blackened; blackening ˈblak-(ə-)niŋ 

1

: to make or become dark or black

2

: to hurt the reputation of

blackener

-(ə-)nər 

noun