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to tarnish

to tarnish

60 4.9
To make something like metal or a reputation lose its shine
  • verb
  • /ˈtɑrnɪʃ/
translation icon : deslustar
  • Over time, the exposure to air will tarnish the silverware, requiring regular polishing to keep it shiny.
  • tarnish a reputation
  • tarnish an image
  • tarnish credibility

You don't want it to, you know, tarnish your image.

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Examples

  • I wouldn't want to tarnish your perfect reputation.

  • One is I will not stand by while you tarnish the reputation of the great Sambang on a on a few levels.

  • I thought that was going to really tarnish the sport that I loved so much.

  • Because his wife and all of his kids felt that it would absolutely tarnish their reputation.

  • You don't want it to, you know, tarnish your image.

  • And I think about how I can protect them from anything that might tarnish their Sonny childhood.

  • I remember thinking very highly of Private Bell- not wanting to see his record tarnished by a formal charge.

  • China's investments in Sudan, for example, have tarnished its international reputation.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Thus, the military was able to cleanse its image, tarnished during the October 1988 riots.

    Academic text (1993)
  • During this time, reports of the systematic human rights abuses have tarnished Iran's reputation in the international community.

    Academic text (2004)

Synonyms

to taint
vsto tarnish
126 7.3

To make something harmful or spoil its quality

focuses equally on losing brightness as well as reputational harm
to stain
vsto tarnish
113 3.2

To put color on something to change how it looks

can refer to such marks but also to loss of shine or reputation
to degrade
vsto tarnish
55 5.1

To treat someone so they feel ashamed or less respected

can mean that loss of respect but also surface tarnishing
to defile
vsto tarnish
38 8.6

To make something dirty or harm its reputation

is narrower in focusing on dulling shine and hurting reputation
to besmirch
vsto tarnish
  • Formal
14 8.8

Make a person or company look bad by saying bad things about them

is broader, applying equally to surfaces losing shine
to sully
vsto tarnish
13 7.6

Make someone's good name seem bad

includes that figurative harm but also literal fading or dulling
to discolor
vsto tarnish
  • US
11 4.1

To become faded or stained

is broader, also used for harming someone's good name
to darken
vsto tarnish
6 3.8

Make people think less of someone after a bad action

also covers physical loss of shine, not only harm to standing
to tarnish reputation
vsto tarnish
3 6.0

Damage the respect and good opinion people have of someone or something

is more general, covering brightness loss as well as reputation harm
to blemish
vsto tarnish
3 5.5

To make something look less perfect or attractive

often means loss of brightness or reputation rather than only blemishes
to mar
vsto tarnish
2 5.3

To damage how something looks or its quality

adds the idea of lost shine or reduced public esteem as well
to smirch
vsto tarnish
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To put a dirty mark on something like a dress or carpet

leans more toward general loss of shine or reputation rather than only soil
to maculate
vsto tarnish
  • Formal
9.9

To make something dirty or spoil its reputation

is similar but also includes plain physical dulling of surfaces
to smut
vsto tarnish
  • Archaic
7.9

To stain something with black dirt or soot

also covers dulling or harming public opinion, not just dirt
to smutch
vsto tarnish
  • Archaic
9.9

To make a dirty mark or smudge on something

may mean that physical soiling but also includes reputational harm
to dinge
vsto tarnish
  • UK
9.8

To make something look dirty or faded

extends beyond dullness to include damage to reputation in use
to uglify
vsto tarnish
8.5

Make something look bad and spoil its appearance

is more about losing shine or public respect rather than only ugliness

Antonyms

424 4.0

Make something better or more attractive

46 1.1

To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing it

Phrasal Verbs

Damage the respect and good opinion people have of someone or something

How Damaging

to ruin
2.0
to tarnish
60 4.9
to mar
2 5.3
to blemish
3 5.5

Surface Forms

tarnish infinitive
tarnished past
tarnished past participle
tarnishing present participle
tarnishes third person singular

Etymology

Tarnish as a verb comes from the same old French root ternir meaning 'to make dark', so to tarnish someone's reputation is like making their good name 'less bright' or spoiled.