Definition of tarnish
transitive verb
1 : to dull or destroy the luster of by or as if by air, dust, or dirt : soil, stain
2a : to detract from the good quality of : vitiate his fine dreams now slightly tarnishedb : to bring disgrace on : sully the scandal has tarnished his reputation
intransitive verb
: to become tarnished
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Examples of tarnish in a Sentence
Some foods will tarnish silver.
The scandal tarnished his reputation.
Recent Examples of tarnish from the Web
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A fraudulent election can tarnish a country’s reputation, threaten its stability, and deter investment and aid.
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Karras’s full-year suspension for gambling in 1963 may have tarnished his Hall of Fame chances.
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On the other hand, the Democrats could choose not to work with the Republicans on removing Trump, and instead tarnish the party for enabling the president.
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Christie, a former presidential contender whose reputation was tarnished by the Bridgegate traffic scandal involving some of his closest aides, is already the least popular governor in state history.
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To allow a few bad actors to tarnish this innovative technology would be a mistake.
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There was a real concern among lovers of both David Lynch and the original Twin Peaks that this 18-episode revival series from Showtime would tarnish the legacy of one of the most groundbreaking shows in TV history.
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At least two Republican lawmakers have criticized the president, as of Thursday morning, for tarnishing the dignity of his office.
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But they are demonized, their characters are tarnished …
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tarnish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of tarnish
Middle English ternysshen, from Middle French terniss-, stem of ternir, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German tarnan to hide
tarnish
Definition of tarnish
: 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
a polish that removes tarnish
Recent Examples of tarnish from the Web
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In the midst of all this, the pedigreed Falkeses try to resist the tarnish of the Wolinskis.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tarnish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of tarnish
1684
TARNISH Defined for English Language Learners
tarnish
playDefinition of tarnish for English Language Learners
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: to become or cause (metal) to become dull and not shiny
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: to damage or ruin the good quality of (something, such as a person's reputation, image, etc.)
tarnish
Definition of tarnish for English Language Learners
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: a thin layer on the surface of metal which makes the metal look dull
TARNISH Defined for Kids
Definition of tarnish for Students
tarnished
;tarnishing
1 : to make or become dull, dim, or discolored
2 : to bring disgrace or ruin The scandal tarnished his reputation.
Definition of tarnish for Students
: a surface coating formed during tarnishing
Learn More about tarnish
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See words that rhyme with tarnish Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tarnish Spanish Central: Translation of tarnish Nglish: Translation of tarnish for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tarnish for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tarnish
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