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
Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 19 Dec. 2025
The doors were all blackened down.
—Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
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
According to Applebee's website, menu items include bourbon street chicken and shrimp, hot honey glazed chicken and blackened Cajun salmon.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 19 Dec. 2025
The doors were all blackened down.
—Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blackened
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackened
Adjective
-
Tube benders also use stained glass, phosphorus and mercury to create other colors.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The stained clothes should be washed as soon as possible to help prevent discoloration or fading from the salty chemicals.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Garments can be dirtied again by the elements if air-dried outside.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Dec. 2025
-
The ashes from the crematorium chimney covered the streets, sooted the rain, dirtied the snow, damaged the crops, infected every body.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Blood was smeared on the hood, roof and rear of the sedan.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Hadid appears beat up with a gash on her arm, dirt on her face, and smeared black eye makeup.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Adams has spent his final months in office globetrotting and shoring up his legacy, touting his accomplishments during a stormy tenure as mayor darkened by corruption charges in late 2024.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Dec. 2025
-
As the skies darkened ahead of Christmas Eve, volunteers shifted and set up for the annual community brunch hosted on Anaheim’s West Center Street Promenade in a nearby parking structure instead.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
24 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
So many downtown buildings and parking areas are filthy, smelling of urine and unmaintained.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
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
-
In addition to pain, light sensitivity and obscured vision, acanthamoeba keratitis can also cause redness, dryness, excessive tears and a sensation of a foreign body in the eye.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The video showed a hooded figure with their face obscured, walking calmly in a snowy alleyway near the couple's home around the timeframe authorities estimated the Tepes were killed, police said in an update.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These chambers mimic Mars’ low-pressure atmosphere, dry conditions, and dusty surface.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Don’t sit at home getting dusty.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blackened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackened. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
