The difference between Blacken and Sully

When used as verbs, blacken means to cause to be or become black, whereas sully means to soil or stain.


Sully is also noun with the meaning: a blemish.

check bellow for the other definitions of Blacken and Sully

  1. Blacken as a verb (transitive):

    To cause to be or become black.

  2. Blacken as a verb (intransitive):

    To become black.

    Examples:

    "The sky blackened as the storm clouds rolled in."

  3. Blacken as a verb:

    To make dirty.

  4. Blacken as a verb:

    To defame or sully.

    Examples:

    "Malice delights to blacken the characters of prominent men.'' — Napoleon Bonaparte"

  5. Blacken as a verb:

    To cook (meat or fish) by coating with pepper, etc., and quickly searing in a hot pan.

  1. Sully as a verb (transitive):

    To soil or stain; to dirty.

    Examples:

    "synonyms sowq1=obsolete"

    "He did not wish to sully his hands with gardening."

  2. Sully as a verb (transitive):

    To corrupt or damage.

    Examples:

    "She tried to sully her rival’s reputation with a suggestive comment."

  3. Sully as a verb (intransitive):

    To become soiled or tarnished.

  1. Sully as a noun (rare, obsolete):

    A blemish.