Blacken, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackened; p. pr. & vb. n. Blackening.]
Etymology: [See Black, a., and cf. Black, v. t. ]
1. To make or render black. While the long funerals blacken all the way. Pope
2. To make dark; to darken; to cloud. "Blackened the whole heavens." South.
3. To defame; to sully, as reputation; to make infamous; as, vice blackens the character.
Syn. -- To denigrate; defame; vilify; slander; calumniate; traduce; malign; asperse.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Blacken, v. i.
To grow black or dark.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists blacken only as an antonym, under bleach.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given