as in to stain
to make dirty
inconsiderately besmirched the carpet with their dirty feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of besmirch
Imagine having the gall to besmirch the name of a young mother killed for trying to speak up for her neighbors or of an ICU nurse shot in the back for trying to tend to a woman who had been pepper-sprayed in the face.
—
Sasha Abramsky,
Washington Post,
2 Feb. 2026
The lack of awards buzz shouldn’t besmirch Amanda Seyfried’s performance here, though, which is great.
—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
For example, anyone who has lived in New York City is likely to have noticed the countless chewing gum stains that besmirch the city’s sidewalks.
—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
Kelly believes a book like this hasn’t been written before because people weren’t ready to hear the truth – as though acknowledging these famous people’s complete life experiences would be besmirching their legacies.
—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for besmirch
Sasha Abramsky,
Washington Post,
2 Feb. 2026
The lack of awards buzz shouldn’t besmirch Amanda Seyfried’s performance here, though, which is great.
—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
For example, anyone who has lived in New York City is likely to have noticed the countless chewing gum stains that besmirch the city’s sidewalks.
—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
Kelly believes a book like this hasn’t been written before because people weren’t ready to hear the truth – as though acknowledging these famous people’s complete life experiences would be besmirching their legacies.
—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for besmirch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besmirch
Verb
-
Semi-sheer, marbled accent nails look like they’ve been stained with blackberry juice.
-
Dressing up for warmer weather can be a challenge since plush fabrics like silk can easily stain and aren’t as breathable.
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the Iron fire, about 70 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, blackened 63 square miles by Friday and was 26% contained, authorities said.
-
The Iron Fire in Utah’s Juab County was first detected Saturday and had blackened 34 square miles (87 square kilometers), authorities said.
Verb
-
The spoon even comes with measuring lines for a teaspoon and tablespoon, saving you from having to dirty another utensil.
-
But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.
Verb
-
The Spurs were a ghastly 11 of 46 from the perimeter, sullying an otherwise analytically pristine shot chart that included only four non-paint 2s.
-
Soap invited its viewers to take jabs at the genre in a time when the soap opera’s reputation had already been sullied in the American mind.
Cite this Entry
“Besmirch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besmirch. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
