blacken | Definition of blacken

1 to make dirty

blackened the towels with their dirty hands

Synonyms of blacken

befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, daub, dirty, distain [archaic], foul, gaum [dialect], grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully

Words Related to blacken

contaminate, defile, pollute, taint

discolor

confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle

colly [chiefly British dialect], crock [dialect]

Near Antonyms of blacken

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)

Antonyms of blacken

clean, cleanse

2 to make untrue and harmful statements about

the politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation

Synonyms of blacken

asperse, calumniate, defame, libel, malign, slander, smear, traduce, vilify

Words Related to blacken

belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage

discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame

abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate

disdain, scorn

Near Antonyms of blacken

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

Synonyms of blacken

becloud, bedim, befog, blear, blur, cloud, darken, dim, dislimn, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, obscure, overcast, overcloud, overshadow, shadow, shroud

Words Related to blacken

adumbrate, blot out, conceal, eclipse, hide, obliterate, screen, shade

camouflage, cloak, cover, curtain, disguise, mask, veil

Near Antonyms of blacken

expose, reveal, uncover, unveil

Antonyms of blacken

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

4 to grow dark

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

Synonyms of blacken

black out, close in, darken, dusk

Words Related to blacken

dim, fade, wane

gloom, lower (also lour)

Near Antonyms of blacken

dawn

beam, glow, radiate, shine

Antonyms of blacken

brighten, light, lighten

Synonyms and Antonyms of blacken

WORD OF THE DAY

expunge