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
Peaks and valleys are part of any small business’s journey, but missing just one of those monthly bills can tarnish your credit for years.
—
Eyal Lifshitz, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Seasons were spoiled, and careers were tarnished all because Martin couldn’t be honest with himself, his family members, and the world, until now.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
The fallout of that moment tarnished Smith’s reputation and led to him being banned from the Oscars for 10 years.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Mar. 2025
But last year, Sonos tarnished its reputation by rushing an app update to coincide with its first wireless headphones, the Sonos Ace.
—Ars Technica, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Eyal Lifshitz, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Seasons were spoiled, and careers were tarnished all because Martin couldn’t be honest with himself, his family members, and the world, until now.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
The fallout of that moment tarnished Smith’s reputation and led to him being banned from the Oscars for 10 years.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Mar. 2025
But last year, Sonos tarnished its reputation by rushing an app update to coincide with its first wireless headphones, the Sonos Ace.
—Ars Technica, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
Verb
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Listen to this article Two state utilities have asked a judge to order Connecticut’s chief regulator to produce cellphone data and other materials that the companies say could show that a rate decision slashing their revenue last year was tainted by bias and other procedural irregularities.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2025
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The movement also was tainted by instances of rampant antisemitism, which Khalil disavowed.—
Chelsea Bailey, Gloria Pazmino and Taylor Galgano,
CNN,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The transition has been marred by ongoing disagreements, political tensions, infighting and what security experts describe as a lack of a cohesive strategy for fighting the gangs.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
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What Happened On March 8? The SAT, a cornerstone of college admissions, was marred by technical and administrative issues on test day.—
Scott White,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 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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Many shoppers even added DIY elements, such as staining it, incorporating trellises for climbing vines, and casters for easy moving.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Mar. 2025
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Also, ensure there is no debris or dirt stuck to the wheels or base of the machine that could stain the carpet when rolled on it.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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His story of being put on a Kremlin kill list after exposing the Kremlin plot to poison Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is told in Antidote, a documentary directed by James Jones that also premiered at CPH:DOX.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2025
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That’s the cult whose members famously took their own life drinking poisoned Kool-Aid.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Unlike a total eclipse, where the moon completely blocks the sun, a partial eclipse does not darken the sky significantly.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
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In the 2000s, her hair darkened, appearing more dark purple than red, with her makeup turning cooler with neutral-toned browns (see: VH1’s Save The Music Foundation in 2003).—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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