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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Alex Kuffner, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
The benches are blackened with age, strewn with tools.
—Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 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
The company later became known for environmental damage, most notably for causing one of the worst oil spills in history when its supertanker, the Exxon Valdez, spewed millions of gallons of crude oil off Alaska that blackened shorelines and killed marine life.
—Alex Kuffner, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
The benches are blackened with age, strewn with tools.
—Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blackened
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackened
Adjective
-
Some patrons arrive in suits, others in stained work shirts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
Spray the stained area with the solution and scrub with a microfiber cloth.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
10 May 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
-
The Orbánists first ignored them, then smeared them.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Farran asked, gazing at their graves — cardboard signs smeared with handwritten Arabic because the war has made a proper burial in their village impossible.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the American prospect darkened.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Beyond the frequent urination Wayans experienced, type 2 diabetes symptoms can include increased thirst and hunger, weight loss, frequent infections, tingling in the hands and feet, darkened patches on the skin and dry skin.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Inside, filthy soldiers press up against the wood.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
12 May 2026
-
Baker said while Fike's immediate surroundings were filthy, a brand-new hospital bed, urinal and wheelchair were available at the home.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
From the estuary of the River Plate, the city looks mysterious, almost smudged, its lines seeming less refined than those of Paris but more modern than Warsaw’s.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
Those smudged, hazy glass patio doors are not doing your indoor-outdoor view any favors.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The report, issued on April 30, contains 14 recommendations, some of which were obscured from public view for security reasons.—
Philissa Cramer,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Like too many others of his time, Smith’s sheer greatness tends to be obscured, his legacy overlooked.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Two people were killed and two others injured when two vehicles collided head-on Friday evening along a dusty, deserted stretch of road in the Antelope Valley, authorities said.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
From rich red ‘Valentine’ to nearly orange ‘Sungold’ and the dusty plum of ‘Purple Bumble Bee,’ cherry tomatoes add instant color to a plate.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blackened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackened. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
