to make something black or darker in color, to damage someone's reputation by making false accusations against them

blacken someone's name, blacken someone's eye, blacken the mood

Formal and Informal Expressions of blacken

In different contexts, you can replace 'blacken' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'darken' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'smudge' is a commonplace synonym.

blacken: Explore its Definition & Usage

blacken Definition

1to make something black or darker in color
2to damage someone's reputation by making false accusations against them

Using blacken: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "blacken" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The fire had blackened the walls of the house.
Example
The smoke from the burning tires blackened the sky.
Example
The scandalous rumors blackened his name in the community.
Example
The company was accused of trying to blacken the reputation of its competitors.

blacken Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for blacken

Antonyms for blacken

Phrases with blacken

blacken someone's name
to damage someone's reputation by making false accusations against them
Example
He was angry that his ex-wife had tried to blacken his name in front of their children.
blacken someone's eye
to hit someone in the eye, causing it to become bruised or discolored
Example
He threatened to blacken my eye if I didn't give him the money.
blacken the mood
to make a situation more negative or unpleasant
Example
His rude comment blackened the mood of the entire party.

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Summary: blacken in Brief

The verb 'blacken' [ˈblækən] means to make something black or darker in color, or to damage someone's reputation by making false accusations against them. It can refer to physical objects, such as 'The fire had blackened the walls of the house,' or to reputations, as in 'The scandalous rumors blackened his name in the community.' The phrase 'blacken someone's name' is often used to describe this type of reputation damage.