Blacken

/ˈblæk.ən/

Meaning & Definition

verb
To make or become black; to darken.
The smoke from the fire began to blacken the walls.
To tarnish or damage the reputation of; to vilify.
The scandal served to blacken his previously good name.
To burn or scorch the surface of something.
They decided to blacken the steak on the grill for added flavor.

Etymology

Middle English blacken, from black + -en

Common Phrases and Expressions

blacken one's name
to damage someone's reputation
blacken the sky
to darken the atmosphere with clouds or smoke
blacken the heart
to turn towards evil or malevolence

Related Words

black
the color resulting from the absence of light
blackness
the quality of being black
blackened
having been made black or dark

Slang Meanings

to ruin or spoil
That mistake really blackened my chances of getting the job.
to criticize harshly
The critics blackened the movie in their reviews.