1. (v. t.) To make or render black.

2. (v. t.) To make dark; to darken; to cloud.

3. (v. t.) To defame; to sully, as reputation; to make infamous; as, vice blackens the character.

4. (v. i.) To grow black or dark.

abuse asperse attaint bark at becloud bedarken bedaub bedim begloom begrime berate besmear besmirch besmoke besmutch besoil bespatter bestain betongue black black out blackwash block the light blot blot out blotch blow upon blur brand brown call names cast a shadow cast aspersions on censure charcoal cloud cloud over cork darken darken over daub defame defile denigrate dim dim out dinge dirty disapprove discolor discredit disparage ebonize eclipse encloud encompass with shadow engage in personalities execrate expose expose to infamy fulminate against gibbet gloom hang in effigy heap dirt upon ink jaw libel load with reproaches malign mark melanize muckrake murk nigrify obfuscate obnubilate obscure obumbrate occult occultate overcast overcloud overshadow oversmoke pillory rag rail at rate rave against reprimand revile scorch sear shade shadow singe slander slubber slur smear smirch smoke smouch smudge smut smutch soil somber soot spot stain stigmatize sully taint tarnish throw mud at thunder against tongue-lash traduce vilify vituperate yell at yelp at