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
One time, alone in a lean-to of sticks in Florida, something huge blackened the night nearby.
—
Blair Braverman, Outside Online, 17 Apr. 2025
Singh’s face looked swollen and one of his eyes blackened.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
The county is still healing from the scars of 2021’s Caldor Fire, the inferno that blackened more than 221,000 acres and was fed by decades of dry timber and brush that hadn’t seen fire activity since the Second World War.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2025
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, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blacken
Blair Braverman, Outside Online, 17 Apr. 2025
Singh’s face looked swollen and one of his eyes blackened.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
The county is still healing from the scars of 2021’s Caldor Fire, the inferno that blackened more than 221,000 acres and was fed by decades of dry timber and brush that hadn’t seen fire activity since the Second World War.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2025
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, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blacken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blacken
Verb
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Plus, the matte, two-tone color scheme helps resist staining, maintaining the spoons' stylish appeal over time.—
Toby Rose,
Parents,
22 May 2025
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Then, once completed, pasting begins, where mud from the henna plant is placed atop the area to stain.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
22 May 2025
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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The bottom line: The clouds hanging over the economy are darkening and gathering, economists say.—
Laurent Belsie,
Christian Science Monitor,
2 May 2025
-
As the sky darkened and duck calls filled the sky, their number appeared as a shadowed cloud approaching the rice fields.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Crème Brûlée Steve Granitz Crème brûlée is like butter blonde, but dirtied up a bit for a browned, warm tint.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
2 May 2025
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He’s come through with timely hits, dirtied his uniform on the bases and made an impact with his arm in the outfield.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Avoid insecticides, greasy oils, or petroleum jelly smeared near the feeder that can coat hummingbird feathers.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
18 May 2025
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Though the moment is smeared in dramatic score, a dull clanging pierces through; the EMTs can’t get the gurney wheels to glide out of the doorway.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Again the water spray obscured what happened there just before the twister lost its power.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
10 May 2025
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Derrick White and Jrue Holiday were almost good enough to obscure the absence of Brown and Tatum in the game’s final 20 minutes.—
Bill Speros,
Boston Herald,
7 May 2025
Verb
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Their reputations were besmirched.—
The Editors,
National Review,
17 Dec. 2024
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Images illustrating the reality versus carefully edited Instagram selfies have somewhat besmirched Santorini’s romantic reputation of late.—
Helen Iatrou,
AFAR Media,
16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The writer-director’s smartest move is never to deny Colin his dignity, even when he’s humiliated for disappointing Ray or getting vigorously plowed on a table.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2025
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But who among us has not had a little marital spat over one person buying an entire hospital just to humiliate the other?—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blacken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blacken. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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