blackening
noun
black·en·ing ˈblak-niŋ 
ˈbla-kə-
: blacking
Synonyms
- aspersing
- calumniation
- calumny
- character assassination
- defamation
- defaming
- libel
- libeling
- libelling
- maligning
- slander
- smearing
- traducing
- vilification
- vilifying
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
blackening of the senator's good name disgusted voters
Recent Examples on the Web Temple leaves the tail shell on the end of the shrimp to protect the tender tip in the blackening process. 
Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2021 Drizzle lime juice over tilapia, season with 1/2 tsp salt, and dip in blackening seasoning. Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, 31 Mar. 2020 Like Dorian Gray’s portrait, his face registered the blackening of Walt’s soul. Judy Berman, Time, 11 Oct. 2019 He and manager Dave Bristol went at it one day at the yard, with the manager blackening The Count’s eye. Gary Peterson, The Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2019 Fenolio came across an academic journal with a paper about a particular species of frog that had faced similar deaths — a blackening and drying of the skin followed by a quick demise. Josh Baugh, ExpressNews.com, 8 July 2019 The floors were free from the blackening caused by fire. National Geographic, 26 Mar. 2019 Any blackening or a brown shade on the switch or outlet is cause for concern. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 29 Apr. 2016 But then slowly, as the guests began to arrive, our multiracial viewing party started to get the sense that this wasn’t going to be like any other royal wedding in history: The blackening of Windsor was upon us. Attica Locke, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 May 2018 See More
Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2021 Drizzle lime juice over tilapia, season with 1/2 tsp salt, and dip in blackening seasoning. Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, 31 Mar. 2020 Like Dorian Gray’s portrait, his face registered the blackening of Walt’s soul. Judy Berman, Time, 11 Oct. 2019 He and manager Dave Bristol went at it one day at the yard, with the manager blackening The Count’s eye. Gary Peterson, The Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2019 Fenolio came across an academic journal with a paper about a particular species of frog that had faced similar deaths — a blackening and drying of the skin followed by a quick demise. Josh Baugh, ExpressNews.com, 8 July 2019 The floors were free from the blackening caused by fire. National Geographic, 26 Mar. 2019 Any blackening or a brown shade on the switch or outlet is cause for concern. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 29 Apr. 2016 But then slowly, as the guests began to arrive, our multiracial viewing party started to get the sense that this wasn’t going to be like any other royal wedding in history: The blackening of Windsor was upon us. Attica Locke, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 May 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
circa 1909, in the meaning defined above
blackening 1 of 2
noun
as in defaming
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation blackening of the senator's good name disgusted voters Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- defaming
- libeling
- defamation
- libel
- smearing
- libelling
- maligning
- criticism
- traducing
- vilifying
- slander
- calumny
- attack
- vilification
- calumniation
- smear
- abuse
- aspersing
- character assassination
- censure
- contempt
- mud
- malice
- aspersion
- backbiting
- maliciousness
- detraction
- denunciation
- disdain
- innuendo
- spite
- denigration
- vituperation
- disparagement
- invective
- scorn
- muck
- malevolence
- malignancy
- spitefulness
- hatchet job
- hatefulness
- venom
- malignity
- belittlement
- viciousness
- meanness
- spleen
- despite
- nastiness
- cattiness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praise
- respect
- acclaim
- commendation
- esteem
- applause
- honor
- reverence
- worship
- adoration
- veneration
- adulation
- flattery
- accolade
blackening
2 of 2verb
1
as in staining
to make dirty blackened the towels with their dirty hands Synonyms & Similar Words
- staining
- dirtying
- smudging
- messing
- besmirching
- soiling
- sullying
- mucking
- daubing
- muddying
- fouling
- befouling
- contaminating
- discoloring
- griming
- polluting
- miring
- tainting
- smirching
- distaining
- begriming
- defiling
- bemiring
- gauming
- disordering
- disarranging
- muddling
- crocking
- draggling
- disheveling
- jumbling
- disarraying
- dishevelling
- confusing
- collying
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cleaning
- cleansing
- purging
- purifying
- wiping
- decontaminating
- scrubbing
- disinfecting
- brushing
- sweeping
- dusting
- rinsing
- washing
- sanitizing
- scouring
- brightening
- mopping
- renewing
- laundering
- freshening
- deodorizing
- sprucing (up)
- straightening (up)
- dry-cleaning
- tidying (up)
2
as in smearing
to make untrue and harmful statements about the politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation Synonyms & Similar Words
- smearing
- libeling
- libelling
- disgracing
- maligning
- slandering
- humiliating
- vilifying
- defaming
- calumniating
- discrediting
- traducing
- shaming
- denigrating
- detracting
- aspersing
- disparaging
- belittling
- dishonoring
- degrading
- disdaining
- debasing
- humbling
- scorning
- abasing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exalting
- glorifying
- praising
- honoring
- applauding
- respecting
- admiring
- commending
- worshiping
- worshipping
- regarding
- acclaiming
- esteeming
- adoring
- revering
- venerating
3
as in darkening
to make dark, dim, or indistinct thick smoke from the forest fires blackened the sky for many miles Synonyms & Similar Words
- darkening
- obscuring
- blurring
- clouding
- overshadowing
- dimming
- shrouding
- overcasting
- fogging
- shadowing
- beclouding
- misting
- hazing
- shading
- concealing
- obliterating
- overclouding
- dislimning
- bedimming
- hiding
- befogging
- blearing
- covering
- eclipsing
- masking
- adumbrating
- fuzzing (up)
- camouflaging
- veiling
- disguising
- curtaining
- blotting out
- screening
- cloaking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lightening
- brightening
- illuminating
- exposing
- lighting (up)
- revealing
- illumining
- uncovering
- unveiling
4
as in fading
to grow dark the auditorium blackened suddenly, and a spotlighted performer appeared alone on stage Synonyms & Similar Words
- darkening
- fading
- dusking
- closing in
- dimming
- blacking out
- waning
- glooming
- lowering
- louring
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lighting
- lightening
- shining
- brightening
- glowing
- radiating
- dawning
- beaming