blacken

1 of 2

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

blackener

2 of 2

noun

black·​en·​er ˈblak-nər 

ˈbla-kə-

plural -s

: a leather worker that brushes blackening compound onto the grain side of tanned hides

called also blacker

Synonyms of blacken

Verb

• stain
• dirty
• besmirch
• sully

Examples of blacken in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

As the balloon and its occupants fell to the ground, the nylon envelope and the gondola separated, and the wreckage scattered over a roughly 100-yard area, parts of it blackened by the explosion and resulting fire. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

The shrinking process had exaggerated some features, vanished others, and blackened the flesh. — Daniel Barnum, Longreads, 15 Oct. 2026

Footage shot later at daybreak showed the house gutted, charred and blackened from the inside out. — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

After the first killing frost blackens their foliage, wait for a dry day and gently lift them with a garden fork. — Pam Rosendal, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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