as in libel
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
blackening of the senator's good name disgusted voters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in staining
to make dirty
blackened the towels with their dirty hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smearing
to make untrue and harmful statements about
the politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in darkening
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
thick smoke from the forest fires blackened the sky for many miles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in fading
to grow dark
the auditorium blackened suddenly, and a spotlighted performer appeared alone on stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of blackening
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
These tungsten atoms would then condense on the slightly cooler inside of the glass bulb, blackening it and dimming the light over time.
—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
High-Heat-Safe Alternatives While enameled cast-iron cookware is excellent to use for braising, roasting, baking, or gentle stovetop cooking, certain high heat applications like searing steak or blackening fish are best done in other types of pans, like traditional cast iron or stainless steel.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
Each footstep sent up clouds of dust and ash, coating everything, including my mouth and teeth, in fine grit, blackening my snot and saliva.
—
River Selby
august 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
The ancient Southeast Asian practice of tooth blackening was once thought to have emerged in Vietnam around the late 19th century.
—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
And Hanceville’s fate is as murky as the fog that pours in at night, blotting out buildings and blackening the road ahead.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
These tungsten atoms would then condense on the slightly cooler inside of the glass bulb, blackening it and dimming the light over time.
—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
High-Heat-Safe Alternatives While enameled cast-iron cookware is excellent to use for braising, roasting, baking, or gentle stovetop cooking, certain high heat applications like searing steak or blackening fish are best done in other types of pans, like traditional cast iron or stainless steel.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
Each footstep sent up clouds of dust and ash, coating everything, including my mouth and teeth, in fine grit, blackening my snot and saliva.
—
River Selby
august 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackening
Noun
-
Top United Nations official Vanessa Frazier is facing a furious backlash after spreading a sick, fake-news blood libel against Israel on social media.
-
The complaint stated that Meta has declined to file a libel or defamation claim against Wynn-Williams.
Verb
-
Apply a sealant to the sidewalk, if desired, to prevent future staining.
-
The memento, sourced from a Salvation Army, does show some signs of use in the film, including staining, frayed fringe, and some loose threads.
Verb
-
At the entrance of Kollparay, Quispe pauses, taking my hands and smearing them with soil—the soil of her village.
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This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.
Verb
-
Auto-correct tools generally brighten photos, but this one also knows when an image needs darkening.
-
Moonrise will take place across North America in blue hour, when the sky is darkening but still retains color — perfect timing.
Noun
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That case requires a public official claiming defamation to prove the defendant knew their statement was false at the time or demonstrated reckless disregard of its falsity, a standard known as actual malice.
-
Carroll sued Trump shortly thereafter, accusing him of defamation.
Verb
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With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.
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Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.
Verb
-
Shocking lies Within hours, the administration was slandering her.
-
And then the media was slandering our dad’s name and reputation after a lifetime of being a fairly wholesome guy.
Verb
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Also, there are important players coming back from significant injuries, obscuring the picture.
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The lens has a Ri-Pel coating that allows for water and sweat to bead up and slide off the surface, rather than obscuring vision.
Cite this Entry
“Blackening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackening. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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