blacken

American  

[blak-uhn] / ˈblæk ən /

verb (used with object)

1. to make black; darken.

2. to speak evil of; defame.

   to blacken a person's reputation.

   Synonyms:

   calumniate, traduce, libel, slander, smear, denigrate

---

verb (used without object)

1. to grow or become black.

blacken British  

/ ˈblækən /

verb

1. to make or become black or dirty

2. (tr) to defame; slander (esp in the phrase blacken someone's name )

---

Other Word Forms

• blackener noun

Etymology

Origin of blacken

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; black, -en ¹

Example Sentences

Few scenes were more surreal after the firestorms than the miles of blackened homes along Malibu’s world-famous beachfront.

From The Wall Street Journal

The road ahead, once hidden in a sheath of forest, is now a scar carved into the side of a landscape of exposed soil and the standing carcasses of tens of thousands of blackened trees.

From Los Angeles Times

True, there is desolation, with cleared lots and blackened trees nearly everywhere.

From Los Angeles Times

These incidents may temporarily blacken the eyes of the NBA and Major League Baseball but sports gambling is here to stay.

From The Wall Street Journal

The spill blackened popular beaches, killed wildlife and hurt tourism and fishing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• blot
• smudge
• stain
• sully
• tarnish