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
Now, several months after the May release of its overhauled app badly tarnished the brand’s reputation, CEO Patrick Spence has announced a multipart plan to right the ship.
—
Chris Welch, The Verge, 13 Jan. 2025
Trump denies the encounter ever happened, asserting that the prosecution is a politically motivated effort by his adversaries to tarnish his reputation.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
After the atrocities committed during the World War II, fascism remains taboo in Western societies, so anything linking Musk to the ideology could severely tarnish his reputation, as well as risking a diplomatic spat with America's European allies.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
But Reubens’ image as a beloved childhood hero was severely tarnished in 1991 when he was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater, and then again in 2002 when he was charged with misdemeanor possession of obscene material.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tarnish 
Chris Welch, The Verge, 13 Jan. 2025
Trump denies the encounter ever happened, asserting that the prosecution is a politically motivated effort by his adversaries to tarnish his reputation.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
After the atrocities committed during the World War II, fascism remains taboo in Western societies, so anything linking Musk to the ideology could severely tarnish his reputation, as well as risking a diplomatic spat with America's European allies.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
But Reubens’ image as a beloved childhood hero was severely tarnished in 1991 when he was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater, and then again in 2002 when he was charged with misdemeanor possession of obscene material.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
Verb
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Digital evidence may have been tainted after it was removed from the crime scene by prominent Pennsylvania Judge James Schwartzman, the uncle of Greenberg's fiancé.—
Michael Ruiz,
Fox News,
16 Feb. 2025
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Crew and passenger behavior, breadth of activities, weather, operations — these are just some of the things that can taint love when on an ocean or river cruise.—
David Dickstein,
Orange County Register,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Passes for the shows in the U.K. and Ireland went on sale in August 2024, but the on-sale process was marred by long delays and the use of dynamic pricing model, which meant that ticket prices were higher for some fans than expected.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2025
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Apart from losing the popular ballot by about three million votes, Trump’s victory was marred by comical levels of scandal.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
The New Yorker,
5 Feb. 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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Or maybe your seat cushions are sunken in or stained.—
Louryn Strampe,
WIRED,
14 Feb. 2025
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In her home design YouTube videos, Gater frequently makes over second-hand items like hutches, tables, and cabinets by adding coats of paint or stain and replacing the hardware.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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With Tranquil Pines, Matty and Olympia win their case by proving that Lucille poisoned Walter.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2025
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have long hated the British media and framed their declining popularity in the U.K. as a product of tabloids poisoning the well of public opinion.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The clouds are still in sunlight while the ground is darkening after the Sun sets.—
Eric Berger,
Ars Technica,
12 Feb. 2025
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The ice sheet has thinned and darkened since the early 1990’s, especially around its edges….—
Rob Crossan,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near tarnish
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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