sullied 1 of 2

sullied

2 of 2

verb

past tense of sully

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 sullied
Verb
The exhibition features his maps and sullied backpack, toothbrush, bar of soap, and survival goods, along with photos of him sleeping on park benches, crouching on the banks of the Hudson in front of ice floes, and haunting the city. Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025 Manzur encourages that the water be sullied as part of their exhibition to the public. Mario Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025 But that historical moment was sullied when journalist Sarah Hagi posted screenshots of old X posts from Gascón, which contained racist and Islamophobic sentiments. James Factora, Them., 16 Sep. 2025 For the most part, this is about strained resources, not sullied reputations. Emma Whitford, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 That means the air on the Colorado Plateau — when not sullied by the ever-lengthening wildfire season — has become cleaner as the coal industry faded away. Jonathan Thompson, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullied
Adjective
  • Among them is the question of whether to use stained parts of the haversacks — possibly containing blood — on the straps’ reverse side, or to cut around them entirely.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The stained glass traces a hierarchy from the current dean to the Crown and then to God.
    Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The footage from drone cameras shows a large area of industrial Louisville charred and blackened from smoke and fire damage.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Skip any skins that look moldy, blackened, or spoiled.
    Cathy Cassata, Health, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The couple slept on a filthy mattress on the floor with their 4-year-old son, Stephano.
    Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The big comedy set pieces overwhelm Miller’s attempts at satire, but any movie that has Nicholson casually dropping filthy double (and single) entendres beneath arched eyebrows is worth a look.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The ashes from the crematorium chimney covered the streets, sooted the rain, dirtied the snow, damaged the crops, infected every body.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
  • At Dilara Findikoglu, models looked like ladies in waiting that had risen from the dead; wearing antiquated corsetry that was dirtied and torn.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The boots have deep, high-traction treads that grip muddy ground, mixed terrain, and even ice.
    Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
  • So kids and adults alike can take a quick bathroom break without having to tramp through the interior, getting back to the outdoor activities of the day without peeling off muddy boots or clothes.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Trump has focused on tourist-friendly areas being besmirched by crime.
    Niall Stanage, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • People pour in from the dense warrens of India’s financial capital and from dusty villages thousands of kilometers away, all flowing towards the fortified, sea-facing Mumbai home of actor Shah Rukh Khan.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Workers are startled when a jar tumbles out of a dusty box and rolls onto the ground.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Using the Wrong Detergent Unless the black clothes are heavily soiled, consider using a gentle detergent formulated for dark colors rather than one packed with extra enzymes to strip dirt from clothes.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Heavily soiled or infrequently washed items, like curtains, may also benefit from being washed in warm or hot water.
    Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sullied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullied. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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