Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

blacken

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of blacken

1 to make dirty
  • blackened the towels with their dirty hands
Synonyms of blacken

befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, daub, dirty, foul, grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully
Words Related to blacken

contaminate, defile, pollute, taint

discolor

confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle
Near Antonyms of blacken

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 of blacken

clean, cleanse
2 to make untrue and harmful statements about
  • The politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation.
Synonyms of blacken

asperse, defame, libel, malign, slander, smear, traduce, vilify
Words Related to blacken

belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage

discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame

abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate

disdain, scorn
Near Antonyms of blacken

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 of blacken

becloud, bedim, befog, blear, blur, cloud, darken, dim, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, obscure, overcast, overcloud, overshadow, shadow, shroud
Words Related to blacken

adumbrate, blot out, conceal, eclipse, hide, obliterate, screen, shade

camouflage, cloak, cover, curtain, disguise, mask, veil
Near Antonyms of blacken

expose, reveal, uncover, unveil
Antonyms of blacken

brighten, illuminate, illumine, light (up), lighten
4 to grow dark
  • The auditorium blackened suddenly, and a spotlighted performer appeared alone on stage.
Synonyms of blacken

black out, close in, darken, dusk
Words Related to blacken

dim, fade, wane

gloom, lower (also lour)
Near Antonyms of blacken

dawn

beam, glow, radiate, shine
Antonyms of blacken

brighten, light, lighten

Learn More about blacken

  1. See words that rhyme with blacken Dictionary: Definition of blacken Spanish Central: Translation of blacken Nglish: Translation of blacken for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of blacken for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up blacken? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games