tarnishes; tarnished; tarnishing
1
: to become or cause (metal) to become dull and not shiny
Silver tarnishes easily.
Some foods will tarnish silver.
2
: to damage or ruin the good quality of (something, such as a person's reputation, image, etc.)
His actions tarnished [=sullied] the family's good name.
The scandal tarnished his reputation.
: a thin layer on the surface of metal which makes the metal look dull
a polish that removes tarnish
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/tarnish. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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