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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tarnish
This technique works if the metals are just a bit grimy, but wood ash can also be used to remove tarnish and rust, too.
—
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Mar. 2026
The reputation of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, one of the world’s biggest donors, is also getting tarnished.
—David Campbell, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Such actions not only reflect poorly on the individual involved but also tarnish the reputation of our schools, families, and community.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Chamberlain had a long career in public service, but his name will forever be tarnished in the annals of history and remembered for one thing — appeasement.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Mar. 2026
The reputation of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, one of the world’s biggest donors, is also getting tarnished.
—David Campbell, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Such actions not only reflect poorly on the individual involved but also tarnish the reputation of our schools, families, and community.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Chamberlain had a long career in public service, but his name will forever be tarnished in the annals of history and remembered for one thing — appeasement.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
Verb
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Institutional investors, such as German pension funds, saw the company as ethically tainted, and its stock price lagged far behind that of defense firms from other parts of Europe.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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Ohio has seen fewer deaths but more risky behavior lately as fentanyl supplies dry up and people turn to substitutes tainted by animal tranquilizers.—
Kaitlin Coward,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mexico's government has said that the official registry of disappeared is an overcount, often marred by faulty data from local prosecutor's offices and cases of people being reported missing two or three times.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
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But his first year in Philly was marred by knee and adductor injuries that resulted in the forward having one of the worst years of his NBA career.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trump claimed the 11 turbines would spoil the view from his golf course.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
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We have been spoiled the last two seasons.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The person recording it zooms in on a pink backpack that appears to be stained with blood.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
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However, a deep clean can also breathe new life into your floors if they aren’t scratched or stained.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The second is a 100-day sludge line that will poison the reserves oil-hungry nations are racing to drain.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
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But would someone go so far as to poison a tree to keep the view open?—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Oh, and the grief was almost a person of its own, darkening the minds of some of the characters as much as any lightless corridor could darken a space.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
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Bake, tossing halfway through, until vegetables have shrunk and tomato paste is darkened and starting to stick to baking sheet, 25–30 minutes.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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