Blacken — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈbla-kən/ black·en

Meaning & Definition of Blacken

Blacken (verb)

  1. to become dark or black
  2. to make black
  3. defame, sully

Blacken (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make dirty

    "blackened the towels with their dirty hands"

    similar: befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, daub, dirty, distain (archaic), foul, gaum (dialect), grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully
    related: contaminate, defile, pollute, taint, discolor, confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle, colly (chiefly British dialect), crock (dialect)
    opposite: clean, cleanse
    near: decontaminate, purge, purify, disinfect, sanitize, brush, dry-clean, dust, launder, mop, rinse, scour, scrub, sweep, wash, wipe, brighten, deodorize, freshen, renew, spruce (up), straighten (up), tidy (up)

  2. to make untrue and harmful statements about

    "the politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation"

    similar: asperse, calumniate, defame, libel, malign, slander, smear, traduce, vilify
    related: belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame, abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate, disdain, scorn
    near: exalt, glorify, honor, acclaim, applaud, commend, praise, esteem, respect, admire, regard, adore, revere, venerate, worship

  3. to make dark, dim, or indistinct

    "thick smoke from the forest fires blackened the sky for many miles"

    similar: becloud, bedim, befog, blear, blur, cloud, darken, dim, dislimn, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, obscure, overcast, overcloud, overshadow, shadow, shroud
    related: adumbrate, blot out, conceal, eclipse, hide, obliterate, screen, shade, camouflage, cloak, cover, curtain, disguise, mask, veil
    opposite: brighten, illuminate, illumine, light (up), lighten
    near: expose, reveal, uncover, unveil

  4. to grow dark

    "the auditorium blackened suddenly, and a spotlighted performer appeared alone on stage"

    similar: black out, close in, darken, dusk
    related: dim, fade, wane, gloom, lower
    opposite: brighten, light, lighten
    near: dawn, beam, glow, radiate, shine

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Blacken

The most common words with a similar meaning to Blacken:

Archaic: distain
Dialect: gaum
befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, daub, dirty, foul, grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully, asperse, calumniate, defame, libel, malign, slander, smear, traduce, vilify, becloud, bedim, befog, blear, blur, cloud, darken, dim, dislimn, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, obscure, overcast

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Blacken

Words with the opposite meaning of Blacken:

clean, cleanse, brighten, illuminate, illumine, light (up), lighten, light

Related Words for Blacken

contaminate, defile, pollute, taint, discolor, confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle, colly, crock, belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame, abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate, disdain

Near Antonyms of Blacken

decontaminate, purge, purify, disinfect, sanitize, brush, dry-clean, dust, launder, mop, rinse, scour, scrub, sweep, wash, wipe, deodorize, freshen, renew, spruce (up), straighten (up), tidy (up), exalt, glorify, honor, acclaim, applaud, commend, praise, esteem

Word Forms of Blacken

Inflections: blackened, blackening

Derived words: blackener (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Blacken

Middle English blaknen, blakenen, from blak black:1 + -n, -en -en:2

First known use: 14th centuryi

Frequently Asked Questions about Blacken

What does "Blacken" mean?

"Blacken" means to become dark or black. As a verb, it is defined as: to become dark or black. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Blacken"?

Other words for "Blacken" include befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, daub, dirty, distain and foul. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Blacken" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Blacken"?

There are 99 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Blacken". Common alternatives include befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, daub, dirty, distain, foul, gaum and grime.

What is the opposite of "Blacken"?

Antonyms of "Blacken" include clean, cleanse, brighten, illuminate, illumine, light (up), lighten and light. Near antonyms include decontaminate, purge, purify and disinfect.

How do you use "Blacken" in a sentence?

Examples of "Blacken" in a sentence: "blackened the towels with their dirty hands"; "the politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation"; "thick smoke from the forest fires blackened the sky for many miles".

Is "Blacken" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Blacken" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Blacken"?

"Blacken" is pronounced /ˈbla-kən/ and divided into syllables as black·en.

What is the origin of the word "Blacken"?

"Blacken" comes from Middle English blaknen, blakenen, from blak black:1 + -n, -en -en:2. First known use: 14th centuryi.