blackened

American  

[blak-uhnd] / ˈblæk ənd /

adjective

1. (especially of fish) coated with spices and sautéed quickly over high heat so that the outside chars.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unblackened
  adjective

Explanation

To be blackened means to become darkened or charred, often as a result of burning. It can also describe the appearance of blood gathering and spreading beneath the skin in a way that makes it appear darker. Charred vegetables on a grill can be described as blackened from the high heat. Similarly, a piece of toast that is forgotten in the toaster until it's nearly burnt is also blackened. This word can also describe surfaces that have been darkened by smoke or soot, such as the walls of a fireplace. Things can become blackened as a result of cooking, fire, or even age, giving objects a dark, charred appearance.

Example Sentences

The affected dormitory had shattered windows, blackened walls and a crumpled corrugated iron roof, an AFP journalist saw.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

Unverified social media videos showed plumes of smoke rising over Ryazan -- a city of around 500,000 -- and a high-rise apartment block with several blackened floors.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

To add to the drama, a warm Madrid afternoon suddenly turned to blackened skies and a deluge to set a spectacular stage for this meeting of European heavyweights.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Cajun chicken pasta is essentially Alfredo in a leather jacket: fettuccine or penne, blackened or “blackened” chicken, a confetti of peppers and scallions, and a liberal snowfall of Cajun seasoning.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

There, the scrub oak was lying splintered and smoking over the bank, its blackened branches in the water.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

Related Words

• disheveled
• grimy
• grubby
• grungy
• muddy
• nasty
• soiled
• squalid