blackenverb
uk/ˈblæk.ən/us/ˈblæk.ən/blacken verb (MAKE DARK)
[ I or T ] to become black or to make something become black:
The folds of the curtains were blackened with dirt.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making things dirty & untidy
- blot
- clutter
- contaminate
- defile
- dirty
- disarrange
- foul
- mess
- mess sth up
- mix
- mix sth up
- muddle
- muddle sth up
- muss
- pollute
- polluter
- soil
- stain
- sully
- tarnish
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blacken verb (SPOIL)
blacken sb's name, image, reputation, etc.
to spoil someone's reputation:
The financial crash blackened the image of bankers.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Damaging reputation
- besmirch
- black mark
- blot
- blot your copybook idiom
- calumniate
- calumnious
- drag sb's name through the mire/mud idiom
- give a dog a bad name idiom
- hurl/throw/sling mud at sb idiom
- impugn
- libel
- mud
- poison
- show someone in a bad light idiom
- slander
- stab
- stain
- sully
- taint
- vilify
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