tarnish

1 of 2

verb

tar·​nish ˈtär-nish How to pronounce tarnish (audio)
tarnished; tarnishing; tarnishes

transitive verb

1
: to dull or destroy the luster of by or as if by air, dust, or dirt : soil, stain
2
a
: to detract from the good quality of : vitiate
his fine dreams now slightly tarnished
b
: to bring disgrace on : sully
the scandal has tarnished his reputation
tarnishable adjective

tarnish

2 of 2

noun

: something that tarnishes
especially : a film of chemically altered material on the surface of a metal (such as silver)

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
Verb
To put it into today's world might tarnish it a little bit. Dory Jackson, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 Lee has been a fun pickup, sure, but the Giants failed with shortstop Marco Luciano this spring, the shine of the Matt Chapman signing was tarnished by the way J.D. Davis’ exit was handled, and fans are still peeved about Brandon Crawford leaving (please stop emailing me). Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 The Philippines is concerned such issues could tarnish the image of its apparel exports to the U.S., one of Manila’s largest export markets. Jim Gomez, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024 The spike is tarnishing the economic views of a big group of voters in this swing state, even as Arizona’s economy booms. Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 But his season was tarnished by two interceptions in the 48-32 blowout loss. Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2024 Unpredictable events during the sun’s clash with Uranus tarnish your image. USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024 The latest violence comes during an election year for Mexico, with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador set to leave office after a six-year term that has been tarnished by record levels of bloodshed. Keegan Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Wilson, however, appointed a cabinet that included overt racists and promulgated segregationist policies, actions that have tarnished his progressive luster. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
While an opposition boycott and acrimony tarnish the polls, millions of young voters are seeking a different narrative. Julhas Alam and Al-Emrun Garjon, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Jan. 2024 Acid breaks down tarnish, and there’s just enough in ketchup to restore the shine. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Dec. 2023 The hardware saw some tarnishes after extensive use. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2023 The nylon webbing held up against mud and rain, and though the buckle seemed to have a few tarnishes, the collar maintained an excellent condition. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2023 Lacquer is a thin, shiny layer that helps to prevent tarnish. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2022 A little tarnish keeps it from feeling too fussy or precious. 68 of 77 Dress Up Pumpkins No mess here. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2023 Try baking soda: For heavier tarnish, mix three parts baking soda to one part water. Lauren Smith McDonough and Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping, 20 Jan. 2021 While Randazzo and former FirstEnergy executives have not been charged with any crimes to date, the lawmakers most likely to carry the tarnish from Householder’s dirty dealing aren’t actually that beholden to Ohio voters. Sarah Stankorb, The New Republic, 29 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tarnish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English ternysshen, from Middle French terniss-, stem of ternir, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German tarnan to hide

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tarnish was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tarnish

Cite this Entry

“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarnish. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tarnish

1 of 2 verb
tar·​nish ˈtär-nish How to pronounce tarnish (audio)
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)

More from Merriam-Webster on tarnish

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