as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation
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Recent Examples of tarnish
His failure to overcome union opposition here is a disappointment, but doesn’t tarnish an otherwise noteworthy effort.
—
Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
Democrats are throwing cold water on the possibility of Stacey Abrams mounting a third bid for Georgia governor, underscoring how the once-rising star’s image has been tarnished by consecutive losses and recent controversies.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 14 May 2025
Unfortunately, that gift has been tarnished by the Trump administration’s narrow definition of who an American is.
—Jane Smiley
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Silverplate can, however, be permanently tarnished if untreated.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
Democrats are throwing cold water on the possibility of Stacey Abrams mounting a third bid for Georgia governor, underscoring how the once-rising star’s image has been tarnished by consecutive losses and recent controversies.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 14 May 2025
Unfortunately, that gift has been tarnished by the Trump administration’s narrow definition of who an American is.
—Jane Smiley
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Silverplate can, however, be permanently tarnished if untreated.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
Verb
-
With him alive, she was tainted by association with his poor behavior.—
Ann Foster,
JSTOR Daily,
9 July 2025
-
Combs’ reputation has been thoroughly tainted by the lurid details of the trial and strong condemnations from his many accusers.—
August Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
The Mets go the way of Francisco Lindor, and he’s been marred in his own slump this month.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
-
The last weekend of June in Indianapolis was marred by a rash of shootings that left seven dead and nine others injured.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.—
Jack Fitzgerald,
Car and Driver,
13 Feb. 2023
-
Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
-
Police found items stained by blood in garbage bags in the living room closet.—
Kathryn Kovalenko,
Twin Cities,
9 July 2025
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The most basic method for cleaning the toilet is to use a stiff-bristle toilet brush to physically scrub away any mineral buildup, biofilm, or staining.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 July 2025
Verb
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The health secretary said vegetable oils, like canola and soybean, are poisoning Americans and driving the obesity epidemic.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
8 July 2025
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Throughout a trial lasting more than two months, Patterson maintained the beef-and-pastry dish was accidentally poisoned with death cap mushrooms, the world’s most-lethal fungus.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
Verb
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But just as Covid restrictions were lifted, and people began again to mingle again in public, the general social atmosphere seemed to darken.—
Thomas Cangelosi,
Hartford Courant,
27 June 2025
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The glasses feature a 12MP stabilized camera, five mics, dual speakers, and electrochromic lenses that darken on demand.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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