blacken

American

[blak-uhn] / ˈblæk ən /

verb (used with object)

to make black; darken.
to speak evil of; defame.

to blacken a person's reputation.

Synonyms:

calumniate, traduce, libel, slander, smear, denigrate

verb (used without object)

to grow or become black.

blacken British

/ ˈblækən /

verb

to make or become black or dirty
(tr) to defame; slander (esp in the phrase blacken someone's name )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

blackener noun

Etymology

Origin of blacken

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

It was her first day back, and she had just walked through a sea of scorched Joshua trees rising from blackened earth, their dagger-like leaves bleached an unhealthy yellow.

From Los Angeles Times

Dozens of men arrived for the prayers in a show of defiance - their backs turned towards the scorched and blackened wall.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023