SULLYING Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

sullying 1 of 2

noun

as in contamination

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Dissimilar Words

sullying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sully

as in staining

to make dirty people that sully our state parks with their trash a once-gleaming marble interior sullied by decades of exposure to cigarette smoke

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sullying

Verb

The two cars Bentley brought to Laguna Seca are the only two that have been built so far, and sullying either with a trip through the gravel or, worse yet, into a tire barrier, was definitely not on the agenda. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026 The Spurs were a ghastly 11 of 46 from the perimeter, sullying an otherwise analytically pristine shot chart that included only four non-paint 2s. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 5 June 2026 And could a second season, sans the extraordinary talents of Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, deliver a story and themes in keeping with that brand, without sullying what was so deviously tricky about the original series and its tone? — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 Social media was full of people accusing Canada of sullying the great sport and sportsmanship of curling. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026 The problem is, people were drinking a lot of bad ones, sullying their opinion of the drink. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2026 The scale of the fraud in Minnesota dwarfs the roughly $100 million welfare scandal that rocked Mississippi from 2016 to 2019, embroiling former NFL quarterback Brett Favre in a civil lawsuit and sullying the state’s reputation for oversight. — The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026 Part of the art of airing dirty laundry lies in sullying oneself in the process. — Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullying

Noun

The study’s authors said that this discovery shows the potential to better remediate synthetic dye chemicals from textile production wastewater to protect vulnerable water supplies from contamination.

— Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Several food products were recalled in September over concerns ranging from possible salmonella and listeria contamination to undeclared allergens, foreign materials and other potential hazards.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of contamination

Noun

It’s made of 10K gold, so any tarnishing that happens down the line can likely be cleaned or polished away.

— Olivia Dubyak, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Make sure to hand-wash any copper items or other precious metals to keep their shine and luster intact and avoid discoloration or tarnishing.

— Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026

Definition of tarnishing

Verb

Lines at Russian gas stations, crippled refineries, and images of burning oil depots blackening the sky lent credence to the narrative, as did blackouts and fuel shortages in Crimea.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2026
There’s more than just blackening bananas; electrodes embedded in the fruit transmit electrical signals into sound and light tones that constantly shift.

— Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of blackening

Noun

The pigments were matched to sunsets painted by Turner and Monet, the sublime effects of which were caused by pollution from the Industrial Revolution, and so the work was likewise beautiful in direct proportion to the poisoning of our atmosphere.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Last month, the EPA repealed a set of standards finalized during the Biden administration that required new and existing plants to reduce carbon pollution by installing carbon capture, sequestration, and storage technology.

— Maydeen Merino, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of pollution

Verb

Troubled by all the people besmirching the occupation, a group of agents formed a national trade group in 1908—the one eventually known as NAR.

— Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026
In her response, Hajdini cast Rana as manipulative and deceitful, intent on ruining her life and besmirching her employer through his sensational accusations.

— David Chiu, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026

Definition of besmirching

Verb

Towards the end of the episode, Abby (Hall) and Andrew Borden (Hunnam) get very sick after eating spoiled oysters — projectile vomiting and soiling their undergarments in the dining room.

— Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2026
An Australian indoor fitness athlete apologized Thursday for continuing to participate in a recent competition after apparently soiling herself.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of soiling

Browse Nearby Words

sully

sullying

sultan

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“Sullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullying. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sullying

noun

verb

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