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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tarnish
Dry the globes thoroughly with a dry cloth to prevent tarnish.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
What a disappointment to have something so joyous tarnished by a dreadful reality where women are being belittled & disrespected for existing.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
This natural cleaner will gently lift away tarnish without scratching your ring.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
Or is this a one-of-one moment, the answer to a trivia question about a dunk contest that blends with the other forgettable ones that have tarnished the reputation of the event?
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
What a disappointment to have something so joyous tarnished by a dreadful reality where women are being belittled & disrespected for existing.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
This natural cleaner will gently lift away tarnish without scratching your ring.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
Or is this a one-of-one moment, the answer to a trivia question about a dunk contest that blends with the other forgettable ones that have tarnished the reputation of the event?
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
Verb
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Once a sky-blue democracy is restored, may Trump’s days of infamy be ruled illegitimate and his name and legacy duly tainted by all of history, darkly blackened or cautiously reddened in the honest records that this twerp and his twisted cohorts have conspired so heinously to whitewash.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Is there something tainted or cursed about this place?—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Panthers’ season has been marred by injuries and players running on fumes in the aftermath of three consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup Final, including winning it all each of the past two years.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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Hendrickson, whose final two seasons in Cincinnati were marred by contract questions, was said to be holding out for a deal that would pay him $30 million per year.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As Cuba’s economic crisis deepens and amid the fuel shortages and the blackouts, hospitals have been hard hit, leaving patients in the dark and medicine at risk of spoiling.—
Carmen Sesin,
NBC news,
18 Mar. 2026
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The city's residents are concerned about food spoiling and simply trying to maneuver in homes with no lighting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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No more worrying about whether my teeth are wine-stained at dinner and no reason to feel guilty about that second (or third) espresso hit.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
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Then the wood must dry, then be sanded, stained and carved.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The false death of Nicholas Bell (David Morse) — which evolved from a heart attack and Bailey’s grandfather being poisoned — brought malicious forces out of the woodwork.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Chronic mold poisoning our children.—
Sumathy Kumar,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But as the director returns to Capitol Hill Tuesday to appear before the House Committee on Appropriations, that outlook has darkened.—
Anil Oza,
STAT,
17 Mar. 2026
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The right pick can darken a bedroom for better sleep, cut energy costs, or completely shift how a room feels.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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