unsmirched

1 9.6

Free from stains, dirt, or a bad reputation

adjective
/ʌnˈsmɜrʧt/

Archaic

: inmaculado

That drop of blood that's calm proclaims me bastard, cries "cuckold" to my father, brands the "harlot" even here, between the unsmirched brow of my true mother.

Examples

Despite the scandal, she remained unsmirched in her moral integrity, always standing up for what was right.
The politician managed to leave the debate with his reputation unsmirched despite the harsh accusations from his opponents.
Her unsmirched reputation as an honest leader earned her the trust of the community.

Synonyms

unspoiled

vsunsmirched

11 3.9

Not damaged or rotten and still in a fresh, natural state

is narrower toward cleanliness and reputational purity rather than general intactness

unsullied

vsunsmirched

5 7.0

Completely clean and not spoiled or stained

focuses equally on general cleanliness and reputation rather than only public purity

untarnished

vsunsmirched

2 5.5

Not spoiled or stained and still in good condition

covers both reputation and physical condition, not only long term record

undefiled

vsunsmirched

1 9.9

Not spoiled by dirt, harm, or bad things

is less about ritual purity and more about general cleanliness or reputation

unmarred

vsunsmirched

1 6.8

Not damaged or harmed

adds idea of unstained reputation or purity beyond mere physical intactness

unspotted

vsunsmirched

1 6.3

Free of marks, stains, or faults

includes spotless reputation or condition, not only visual spotless quality

unsoiled

vsunsmirched

1 3.0

Clean and free from stains or dirt

extends this physical cleanness to include purity of reputation or condition

unbesmirched

vsunsmirched

Formal

9.1

Having a clean reputation with no scandal

is broader, applying to condition or reputation without stressing moral blame

unstained

vsunsmirched

3.2

Clean and without marks or dirt

adds sense of untarnished standing or reputation beyond physical cleanliness

unsmudged

vsunsmirched

4.2

Clean and clear with no marks or stains

is broader, applying to reputation and overall condition not only surfaces

unruined

vsunsmirched

4.2

Not destroyed or damaged and still in good condition

stresses absence of stain or tarnish in reputation or purity rather than survival

Antonyms

stained

1 2.6

Marked or colored by something that is hard to remove

tainted

4.5

Spoiled and unsafe because it has rot or something harmful

How Tarnished

stained

1 2.6

unsmirched

Archaic

1 9.6

pristine

63 5.1

Surface Forms

unsmirched positive

Morphology

unsmirched = smirched (transparent) = un + smirch + ed

The adjective is simply the negation of 'smirched' (stained), so a learner who knows 'smirch/smirched' and 'un-' can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The word unsmirched starts with un- meaning 'not' and uses the verb smirch meaning 'to stain' or 'to make a spot', a bit like the common word smudge. So unsmirched describes something 'not stained' or a reputation that is still clean.