as in contamination
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Dissimilar Words
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
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Recent Examples of sullying
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
Verb
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
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Monitoring teams were stationed around the demolition zone to check for any radioactive contamination released during the implosion.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
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Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice and other frozen products are being recalled due to potential glass contamination.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Too much moisture can seep into cracks, causing swelling, staining, or warping.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
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Be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid staining, as this formula will transfer if left behind.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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This leather case has four necklace hooks with pockets for storing chains, six holes for earrings, and a faux suede interior that’s treated to prevent tarnishing.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And Hanceville’s fate is as murky as the fog that pours in at night, blotting out buildings and blackening the road ahead.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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These tungsten atoms would then condense on the slightly cooler inside of the glass bulb, blackening it and dimming the light over time.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Having run down everything that’s wrong with the world outside our windows — unemployment, crime, pollution, a failing economy — the gentleman now has a favor to ask of his viewers.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
21 Feb. 2026
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Lighting throughout the camp is deliberately subdued, with warm-temperature luminaires and dim solar path lights that create minimal pollution and allow for maximum Milky Way views.—
Megan Eaves,
Outside,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
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Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.—
Adam Roy,
Outside,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Kelly believes a book like this hasn’t been written before because people weren’t ready to hear the truth – as though acknowledging these famous people’s complete life experiences would be besmirching their legacies.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
12 Jan. 2026
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Famously, the British press conspired to draw the dramatist’s name through the mud, besmirching his literary legacy for generations to follow.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Also on the good side of things is Sean Bell’s lanky Sir Robin, the not-quite-so-brave, armor-soiling knight.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
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On TikTok, as The Washington Post has reported, some creators are making $5,000 a month using AI tools to write scripts and animate extremely dumb viral videos where old men talk about soiling themselves.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullying. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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