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
Shortly after Palace’s next match had finished, a defeat by Everton on the opening weekend of the new season, his reputation among the supporters had been sullied again. Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Such shenanigans are more or less expected, and certainly haven’t forever sullied the American soccer fan base, at least here at home. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 July 2026 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. Literary Hub, 18 May 2026 He was accused of abusing boys, a charge that went unproven but sullied his reputation in Europe. Amanda Rosa updated April 28, Miami Herald, 28 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullied
Adjective
  • With stained glass, the gray light from outside is filtered through beautiful pieces of glass.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2026
  • How To Deep Clean Stained Wood Baseboards For stained wood baseboards, Matthews advises dusting using a dry microfiber cloth and Murphy’s Oil or a wood cleaning oil (remove excessive dirt and crumbs with a vacuum cleaner first).
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The blaze blackened about 25 acres near the Getty Center before firefighters got the upper hand on it.
    Tom Tapp, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Venus ascendant, sky blackened with the new moon, and acool breeze soothed you.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • People were filthy in so many ways, so Mike really wrote that in.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
  • While sinks can become filthy from soap splatters and dirty hands, toilets need cleaning for very different reasons.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 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
  • The floating schools were a response to a longstanding local problem of seasonal floods and impassable, muddy roads that kept children from reaching conventional schools.
    Ali Asif Shawon, NPR, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Half-dead and dragging himself on his belly through a muddy field, Eddie is far from the calm, affable aristocrat audiences first met in Season 1.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Our nation’s capital is besmirched, on his say-so, with signs and banners bearing his likeness and name.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Bryna Laub, editor of Daytime Serial Newsletter, felt the show besmirched the sanctity of soaps and contributed to the broader currents of shame surrounding the genre.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Adjective
  • Saharan dust, a mass of dry, dusty air, can inhibit the development of tropical systems and storms.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Purple Haze From smoky lilac to rich plum, from wine red to dusty mauve, the purple palette reigns supreme this time of year.
    Joy Montgomery, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Roma took one last lights-and-sirens ride with Keith that day, clutching his son’s red helmet, now soiled by debris.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Well-loved and used items that are broken, damaged beyond repair, unsafe, or heavily stained or soiled should be thrown out.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sullied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullied. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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