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
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
The mosque is blackened and burned, the minaret split in two.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026
Add the unpeeled garlic and toast until blackened, about 5 minutes.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blacken
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
The mosque is blackened and burned, the minaret split in two.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026
Add the unpeeled garlic and toast until blackened, about 5 minutes.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blacken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blacken
Verb
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Prosecutors said a boxcutter stained with what appeared to be blood was found in the car, and there were also possible bloodstains found on the steering wheel and exterior door.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
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At the site, an Associated Press reporter saw rubble and chunks of concrete stained with blood.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Verb
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In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2025
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As a new, inexpensive Chevrolet appeared in 1927 and The Dearborn Independent was sued for libeling a number of Jewish businessmen, Ford threw in the towel and apologized.—
George Pendle,
airmail.news,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Experts warn the vast basin, fed by the murky Tidal Basin and darkened by new paint that warms the water, may never stay algae-free without more drastic measures.—
Katie Vogel,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
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Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until mixture darkens slightly, about 3 minutes.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 June 2026
Verb
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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.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
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With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Over in the next aisle, Gifty Anderson, who typically buys bales from Canada and the United Kingdom, held up a dress smeared with body makeup and tossed it aside without a second thought.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
8 June 2026
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This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
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.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
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And what’s a novelist but a fence, furnishing imaginary scenes with choice pieces of reality while obscuring their provenance?—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
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.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
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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.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Only the United States was humiliated; both countries have experienced a catastrophic loss.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
18 June 2026
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However, they were then humiliated 2-1, after extra time, by second division side Torreense in the final.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blacken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blacken. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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