as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation
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Recent Examples of tarnish
Disneyland will transform a corner of Frontierland that has become a hangout for Disney Adults who trade collectible pins into a kids-only pin trading area in the park’s latest attempt to rein in professional resellers who threaten to tarnish the decades-old Disney tradition.
—
Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
But the Conservatives are tarnished by 14 tumultuous years in power that ended in 2024.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
Real silver also tarnishes over time, so older silver without any tarnish can be a red flag.
—Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 4 May 2026
And a scandal that sees Runway fooled by (LOL) a fast fashion brand with sweatshop ties as tarnished the mag’s sterling reputation.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
But the Conservatives are tarnished by 14 tumultuous years in power that ended in 2024.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
Real silver also tarnishes over time, so older silver without any tarnish can be a red flag.
—Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 4 May 2026
And a scandal that sees Runway fooled by (LOL) a fast fashion brand with sweatshop ties as tarnished the mag’s sterling reputation.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
Verb
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Does the fact that Burden is still pretty wealthy really taint this tale of heartbreak?—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
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Otherwise, journalism may be perceived as misleading the audience, prompting people to turn to other sources of information that may be tainted by self-interest rather than public interest.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
Verb
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But six years after NASA certified SpaceX to ferry crews to and from the ISS, Boeing’s Starliner still lacks approval for regular crew rotation flights after a 2024 test flight was marred by technical issues.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
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In Strasbourg, groups of Palace supporters clashed among themselves in a square in the city centre, marring the occasion.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Telling the truth would cost millions and would spoil every car on the gravy train.—
Adam Graham,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
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While the Giants had a chance to spoil Harrison’s predictable revenge game, the Brewers effectively put the game to rest by scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth to create a commanding five-run lead.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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But staining showed no RNA or DNA molecules, indicating that the cells were definitely dead.—
Siddhant Pusdekar,
Quanta Magazine,
1 June 2026
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The Bruins’ bat boy’s tears stained the front of Cholowsky’s jersey as his sobs grew heavier by the second.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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He was buried alive on a construction site and then poisoned by a venomous rattlesnake that crawled into his coffin and attacked him.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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Just months after Netflix announced its plans to produce the series, Lin was poisoned and killed at age 39.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Outside, there's little to announce this place but a small square plaque and large windows darkened by velvet curtains.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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The country’s growth outlook has darkened due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has effectively halted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up energy and commodities prices globally.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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