as in stained
not clean
the church's blackened ceiling is the result of centuries of candle smoke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in dirtied
to make dirty
blackened the towels with their dirty hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smeared
to make untrue and harmful statements about
the politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in darkened
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 blackened
Erinne Magee, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022
His blackened execution pyre stands in a barren field, a leitmotif driven like a stake through the heart of the film.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2021
Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
Juicy, whole lobster served grilled or blackened is best, though the menu at this famous haunt features every possible elaboration of the dish.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackened
Adjective
Menu highlights there include sesame guava toast, conch salad, and a blackened shrimp club wrap.
—Erinne Magee, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022
His blackened execution pyre stands in a barren field, a leitmotif driven like a stake through the heart of the film.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2021
Verb
While old shoes washing ashore might sound unique, this isn’t the first time that these leather shoes — well-preserved and blackened with time — have been found in the area.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
Juicy, whole lobster served grilled or blackened is best, though the menu at this famous haunt features every possible elaboration of the dish.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackened
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackened
Adjective
-
The guest-only Chapel Club has a more plush, salon-like feel and there’s more than a hint of naughtiness with stained glass windows casting color onto the sensual artworks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
-
How To Remove Types Of Mattress Stains Step-By-Step Vacuum the mattress and stained area.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Garments can be dirtied again by the elements if air-dried outside.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Their clothes are smeared with mud, symbolizing the earthy, devotional spirit of the journey.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Elliot has a bloody nose, a mouth smeared with lipstick and is wearing a frilly pink bra and pants.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At these delightfully divey watering holes, every visible surface is covered in dollars scribbled with the initials, anniversaries, hometowns, inside jokes, dates, or names of anyone who has darkened the doors of that particular bar over the past fifty years—or maybe just the past week.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Back then, Vine jokes, Harambe memes, and Snapchat filters could sweep through timelines in a way that made the internet feel weirdly communal, even as politics darkened the horizon.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Sauron was bested by some filthy Hobbitses and their pal, Gollum.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Slightly less filthy than the ones on the balcony, those bricks could have used a coat of paint.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But, this time, her liner was doubled, stacked, and smudged, then blended into her metallic shadow.—
Essence,
Essence,
12 Jan. 2026
-
In 2026, makeup artists predict a makeup rebellion, with perfectly imperfect glitter shadow smudged across lids, colorful mascara coating lashes, and ultra-pigmented lipsticks that stand out even further against a backdrop of velvety, natural-looking skin.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While Frances’s face was obscured in the first photo, the duo also stopped to snap a selfie among the snowflakes.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Law enforcement tracked license plate readers until the Mercedes-Benz’s plate was not obscured and found that the car was registered to Lu, according to a criminal complaint.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Oc Register,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These findings suggest that strong, organized magnetic fields may have been common in the early universe, especially in dusty starburst galaxies like Arp 220's ancient counterparts.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
These Cabernets often deliver bold black currant, plum, and dark chocolate flavors, layered with savory iron, dusty spice, herbs, and mineral notes.—
Liz Thach,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blackened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackened. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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