: something that tarnishes
especially
: a film of chemically altered material on the surface of a metal (such as silver)
Synonyms
Examples of tarnish in a Sentence
Verb
Some foods will tarnish silver.
The scandal tarnished his reputation.
Noun
a polish that removes tarnish
Recent Examples on the Web
Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024
Such bribery tarnishes the reputation of the American arms sale industry.
—Charles Tiefer, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Mark Holgate, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024
Apply pure wax and buff with a soft cloth, or use specialized chrome polish to protect the surface against tarnish and oxidation.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tarnish 
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Verb
The extremely negative reception to their most recent games, Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017) and Anthem (2019), tarnished the developer that was once seen as one of the most beloved in the industry.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024
Such bribery tarnishes the reputation of the American arms sale industry.
—Charles Tiefer, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
Aside from being unrecyclable, these cheaper materials tarnish easily when well-used and well-loved by the consumer.
—Mark Holgate, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024
Apply pure wax and buff with a soft cloth, or use specialized chrome polish to protect the surface against tarnish and oxidation.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tarnish
Dictionary Entries Near tarnish
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarnish. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tarnish
1 of 2 verb
tar·nish
ˈtär-nish 
1
: to make or become dull, dim, or discolored
silver tarnishes
2
: to bring disgrace or cast doubt on
tarnished the family's good name
tarnish
2 of 2 noun
: something that tarnishes
especially
: a film of chemically changed material on the surface of a metal (as silver)
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