noircir

Senses

1. 1.

   to blacken; to darken

   to make or become black or dark in color

2. 2.

   to blacken (reputation)

   to damage or tarnish someone's reputation or character

3. 3.

   to darken (mood/outlook)

   to make gloomy, pessimistic, or ominous

Examples

• "Le ciel noircit avant l'orage."

  The sky is darkening before the storm.

• "Ses ennemis ont cherché à noircir sa réputation."

  His enemies sought to blacken his reputation.

• "Les nouvelles ont noirci son humeur."

  The news darkened his mood.

Usage

Noircir is a transitive or intransitive verb. In intransitive use (with être), it means to darken or turn black naturally. In transitive use (with avoir), it means to blacken/darken something or someone's reputation. The figurative sense (damaging reputation) is very common in formal or literary contexts.