sullied 1 of 2

Definition of sulliednext

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
Crowds were relatively small last month, especially compared to March weekends in the years after the COVID pandemic, when thousands of young people packed Ocean Drive and the party was sullied by shootings, stampedes and curfews. Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026 But a battlefield promotion to Ayatollah was arranged, blending faith with politics in an exercise that critics said sullied both even before Khamenei reinforced his position by earthly means, elevating the IRGC. Karl Vick, Time, 28 Feb. 2026 Revelations in 2020 that Boohoo’s Leicester contractors were subjecting their workers to exploitative pay and unsafe conditions certainly sullied the Midlands city’s reputation. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026 The publicity emails sent from Amazon regarding the movie have no individual names or email addresses attached, as though no one wanted their career or personal brand sullied by association. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026 The Golden Globes are a pure and true celebration of artistry that stand for unflinching moral justice and should not be sullied by avarice! Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026 When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026 The brewery’s brand has been sullied by Harvey Weinstein-level ick that the PR response so far has just made worse. Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 31 Dec. 2025 Barrick’s North American operations have been sullied by the company’s exposure to higher-risk regions and separating the two would go a long way to close the valuation gap between Barrick and Agnico Eagle. Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullied
Adjective
  • Using a damp microfiber cloth, apply shaving cream to the stained area and scrub.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Featuring special exhibit on stained glass windows in churches throughout Odenton area.
    Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The benches are blackened with age, strewn with tools.
    Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Juicy, whole lobster served grilled or blackened is best, though the menu at this famous haunt features every possible iteration of the dish.
    Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Kilitch Healthcare had serious quality lapses, in which the facility was filthy, employees were barefoot on the manufacturing floor and the company fraudulently passed products that failed sterility tests.
    C. Michael White, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The movie doesn’t make this plot very clear, and is more concerned with the texture of this filthy world.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Garments can be dirtied again by the elements if air-dried outside.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • As the sweep unfolded, dozens of laborers moved methodically through the forest’s steep and muddy terrain.
    Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Right now, the brand’s running a 30% off deal on its already accessible prices, making this an excellent excuse to upgrade your vehicle for the muddy spring season.
    Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • And thus one of the more wholesome and fun events in the White House calendar was besmirched by a man who simply cannot stop with the zero-sum partisan nonsense even when surrounded by impressionable young faces.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Trump has focused on tourist-friendly areas being besmirched by crime.
    Niall Stanage, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Robert Pattinson jumped on the dusty-pink trend, strapping on a Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre Chronograph Moon with a copper-colored dial for the New York premiere of The Drama.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Across the river in Mexico, men hawk rides in their dusty pick-ups, on horseback or by donkey, to take tourists three-quarters of a mile up a dirt road.
    Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Fill the trash can about 2/3 full with hot water, or up to the rim if it's soiled near the top.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
  • However, curtains that are near entrances will become soiled more quickly than others.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sullied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullied. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.

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