as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tarnish
Not tarnished because of this conflict.
—
Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
But the passage of time has also tarnished the late queen’s legacy.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
The actress also denied making the complaint, claiming the allegations have tarnished her reputation for integrity and honesty and is seeking damages.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
The squeaky-clean image of the Bachelor franchise has been tarnished, and its programming isn’t alone in becoming embroiled in headline-making drama.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
But the passage of time has also tarnished the late queen’s legacy.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
The actress also denied making the complaint, claiming the allegations have tarnished her reputation for integrity and honesty and is seeking damages.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
The squeaky-clean image of the Bachelor franchise has been tarnished, and its programming isn’t alone in becoming embroiled in headline-making drama.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
Verb
-
An expert who spoke to New York magazine estimated that about 30 percent of the peptides tested for clients were contaminated or otherwise tainted.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Court exhibit But that, too, Casteleiro argued, was tainted.—
Mary Murphy,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That project was marred by a labor investigation, which BYD and its contractors settled late last year.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
-
May Day rallies in Turkey are frequently marred by clashes with authorities.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Naturally, trouble spoils the crew’s relaxation in the form of an ocean princess named Yura (Allegra Clark; Saoiri Onishi) on the run from baddies Zodon (Christopher Corey Smith; Koichi Domoto) and Djeese (Yuri Lowenthal; Koji Yusa).—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
1 May 2026
-
Cincy spoiled the shutout in the ninth off reliever Jimmy Herget when Will Benson tagged him for a two-run homer.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On TikTok, short videos often show people traveling to Turkey to fix their uneven or stained teeth and transform their smiles.—
K.H. Koehler,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Customize it by painting the wood a fun color or staining it for a rustic look.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The courts said that map was poisoned by partisan considerations, forcing the Legislature to come up with a new map before the 2016 primary.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Two years later, a train derailed, and the air, water, and clay of East Palestine were poisoned.—
Mary Norris,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Note that unpeeled bananas will darken in color and may become mushy, but the fruit inside will still be perfectly fine to use.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Skies darkened around the same time over Lake Norman, with a light rain in Mooresville and a slight pickup in winds.—
DIAMOND VENCES,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
