black mark
noun
: something that makes something else less perfect or less appealing
His habitual tardiness was a black mark against him.
Examples of black mark in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Why do baseball players put a black mark under their eyes?
—
Adam Annaccone,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
There, arcing over her signature, is a jagged black mark.
—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Being a part of Infowars was not just a temporary sacrifice, but an irrevocable black mark on all of us, and according to Jones, working alongside him would forever stain our résumés and limit our prospects.
—
Josh Owens,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
Iran’s collapse is a black mark against China’s sales pitch to the international community that its sphere of influence can provide safety and stability outside the West.
—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
The decline in operating earnings from the impairment is paying for past errors, so it should be considered part of the long-term value-creation measurement, but not necessarily a black mark on this quarter.
—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
1 Mar. 2026
And for America's president to show so little regard, appreciation and understanding for what Denmark has done is a black mark on America.
—
Barbara Sprunt,
NPR,
19 Jan. 2026
Yet another black mark on his dismal record.
—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
But this current scandal is likely to leave an ugly black mark on his legacy, as well as on the Clippers' reputation.
—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Adam Annaccone,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
There, arcing over her signature, is a jagged black mark.
—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Being a part of Infowars was not just a temporary sacrifice, but an irrevocable black mark on all of us, and according to Jones, working alongside him would forever stain our résumés and limit our prospects.
—
Josh Owens,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
Iran’s collapse is a black mark against China’s sales pitch to the international community that its sphere of influence can provide safety and stability outside the West.
—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
The decline in operating earnings from the impairment is paying for past errors, so it should be considered part of the long-term value-creation measurement, but not necessarily a black mark on this quarter.
—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
1 Mar. 2026
And for America's president to show so little regard, appreciation and understanding for what Denmark has done is a black mark on America.
—
Barbara Sprunt,
NPR,
19 Jan. 2026
Yet another black mark on his dismal record.
—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
But this current scandal is likely to leave an ugly black mark on his legacy, as well as on the Clippers' reputation.
—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Black mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20mark. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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