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
Pictures show various silver artifacts that have been tarnished with age.
—
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
This is what makes Greg (Ben Stiller) losing him such a crisis, threatening to tarnish his relationship with his future parents-in-law forever.
12.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Honda’s supply contract with IndyCar ends next year and the company hasn’t hid its distaste over the cheating scandals that have recently tarnished the series.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
Eric Adams, now tarnished by petty corruption, probably owes his mayoralty to months of good press in the Post during his 2021 campaign.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
This is what makes Greg (Ben Stiller) losing him such a crisis, threatening to tarnish his relationship with his future parents-in-law forever.
12.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Honda’s supply contract with IndyCar ends next year and the company hasn’t hid its distaste over the cheating scandals that have recently tarnished the series.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
Eric Adams, now tarnished by petty corruption, probably owes his mayoralty to months of good press in the Post during his 2021 campaign.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
Verb
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Their prosecution was tainted by multiple constitutional violations and political bias.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
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White died nine days later on Nov. 21 The best friend of a British woman who died after drinking alcohol that authorities suspect was tainted with methanol while visiting Laos is speaking out.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Graffiti marred the exterior of City Hall, an Art Deco landmark built in 1928.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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Signed in 2023 from Fenerbahce in his homeland, Guler’s debut season was marred by injuries.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
8 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
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Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
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Outside, people were returning from the aid hub, mostly empty-handed, while empty flour bags stained with blood lay on the ground.—
Mohammad Jahjouh,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
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The doors to several apartments on the first floor remained stained with the victims’ bloody handprints Saturday.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
31 May 2025
Verb
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The toxins accumulate in filter-feeding fish, and then poison larger mammals who gobble up the fish in mass quantities.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
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The Louisville Courier Journal documented the connection in their investigation into cartel drugs poisoning Oregon.—
Sean Campbell,
The Conversation,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Coutts had the white fireplace darkened to black with a Portola lime wash.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2025
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Asked whether Trump had helped his campaign, by darkening the brand of strongman leaders, Albanese told the ABC on Monday that Dutton had done that by himself.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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