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
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
Photo : Andrew Pogue The compact kitchen sports blackened stainless-steel counters.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2025
Adkins also found a removable tin bowl nestled inside—blackened with soot, likely from cooking over an open flame.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
In an area where fish dip, blackened fish sandwiches and Key lime pie reign supreme, this is a new level of dining in the Florida Keys thanks to Chef Jeremy Ford.
—Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blacken
Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2025
Photo : Andrew Pogue The compact kitchen sports blackened stainless-steel counters.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2025
Adkins also found a removable tin bowl nestled inside—blackened with soot, likely from cooking over an open flame.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
In an area where fish dip, blackened fish sandwiches and Key lime pie reign supreme, this is a new level of dining in the Florida Keys thanks to Chef Jeremy Ford.
—Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blacken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blacken
Verb
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With a yellow rubber glove on her right hand, Heintzelman picks up her finished creations and puts them, one by one, back into egg cartons, with the toilet bowl prominently stained in the background.—
Brian Anthony Hernandez,
People.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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If Bonhoeffer’s example is used to justify more far-right Christian violence in America, that would be another tragedy — and a cruel irony that would stain the legacy of a man who gave up everything to confront a tyrant.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 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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Snag these room darkening curtain panels for just $11, or cozy up your bed with new throw pillows and this chunky knit throw blanket.—
Megan Schaltegger,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Apr. 2025
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While newer formulations tend to avoid these ingredients, some still include actives that can be harsh, especially on sensitive areas like the underarms, where skin is thinner and prone to irritation or darkening.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Place them in a shoe bag or wrap them in a plastic bag to keep them from dirtying other items.—
Will Porter,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Feb. 2025
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For example, a small non-shedding dog that rarely goes outside won't dirty a bed nearly as fast as a large labarador that plays outside daily.—
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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They were usually surrounded by toddlers, soiling their pull-ups while smeared with frosting.—
Dan Ewen,
Deadline,
18 Apr. 2025
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Coogler opens with traumatized sharecropper Sammie (impressive newcomer Miles Caton), smeared with blood and fresh claw marks gouged into the side of his face, staggering mid-service into the church where his father preaches, clutching his guitar.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In this natural-color scene, thick smoke obscures the fire’s mark on the land below.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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Molina writes in pulse-like scenes, and each vignette thickens the novel’s uneasy atmosphere, obscuring our conception of place and, eventually, our conception of what’s real.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 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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Shawn reluctantly agrees, but is humiliated when Cory starts acting corny around his friend Gambling Dan (Phil Buckman), and his lackey, Louie (Weiss).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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He must be seen standing up to foreign oppressors who seek to humiliate China and thwart its rightful rise.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blacken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blacken. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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