tarnish

verb

ˈtär-nish How to pronounce tarnish (audio)
Definition of tarnishnext
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Jingye Group said in a WeChat statement that the nationalization move tarnished the credibility of the British government, spooked international investors and caused great losses to the company’s operation and British taxpayers’ funds. — Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 Some of that sheen has been tarnished in recent weeks by Farage's acceptance of funds from wealthy donors, perhaps giving Burnham an opening to revive Labour's fortunes. — Elizabeth Piper, USA Today, 17 July 2026 And that would enhance his legacy, which has been tarnished lately because of Miami’s three straight lackluster seasons. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026 The more attention Clark brought to the league, the more many of its players tarnished their own public image. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
  1. taint
  2. mar
  3. spoil
  4. stain
  5. poison
  6. darken
Verb
  • The political violence that tainted the Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction era clashes with traditional definitions of terrorism, which typically targets a power structure that such violence seeks to upend.
    — Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026
  • More than two dozen California Democrats are confronting the FCC over its rare early review of Disney’s ABC station licenses, calling the process ideologically tainted and aimed at punishing critical media coverage.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of taint
Verb
  • To prevent a similar war from happening again, Menelaus scarred her face, permanently marring her famous beauty.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • In an address from the White House tonight, the president sought to reveal proof for his baseless assertions of a 2020 vote marred by fraud.
    — Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of mar
Verb
  • As Tom Holland’s summer blockbusters take over the big screen, X has spoiled yet another one of the actor’s theatrical releases.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 31 July 2026
  • Ballot spoiling was the subject of a 2022 lawsuit brought by a Republican group.
    — Scott Bauer, Twin Cities, 29 July 2026
Definition of spoil
Verb
  • The bronze is reportedly stained lipstick-pink from fans kissing it.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Ceiling tiles were stained and chipped throughout the main cook line in the restaurant located inside the kid-friendly entertainment center.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
Definition of stain
Verb
  • Attackers are also targeting AI solutions themselves with prompt injection attacks, poisoned datasets and other increasingly advanced tactics.
    — Peter Garraghan, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • The researchers note that developing robust pre-treatment systems will be vital, as everyday impurities can quickly poison and deactivate the sensitive metal catalyst.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026
Definition of poison
Verb
  • As a makeup product, it can be used as a primer, highlighter, bronzer, foundation shade adjuster (pick a shade to darken or lighten a complexion product that’s a little bit off), and even a skin tint thanks to its sheer but transformative pigment.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 20 July 2026
  • The Hapsburg Inspector General, the equivalent of the food inspector darkening the doorway of a scummy restaurant?
    — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of darken

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tarnish
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Cite this Entry

“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tarnish

Nglish: Translation of tarnish for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tarnish

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