tarnish

verb

ˈtär-nish How to pronounce tarnish (audio)
Definition of tarnishnext
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 tarnish The opposition vastly outspent the proponents, but analysts also attributed the loss to the lack of voter trust in city government, where years of fiscal struggles and bad real estate transactions have tarnished City Hall’s image. — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2026 Secondly, gear like strollers, car seats, and playpens not only occupy a lot of space, but metal parts can tarnish if subjected to humidity. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026 But Hartmann cautions that could tarnish the feel-good vibes on social media, should his administration try to leverage all the goodwill to push a particular narrative. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 June 2026 Nothing tarnishes a league’s integrity more than a player or coach of that league gambling on it. — Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
  1. taint
  2. mar
  3. spoil
  4. stain
  5. poison
  6. darken
Verb
  • The issue is a sensitive one for Labour, which was found to be tainted with antisemitism before Starmer took over, and also relies on the support of a large Muslim population.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Peterson denied new trial In December, Judge Massullo denied a habeas petition filed by Scott in October, which alleged a juror had tainted the pool by lying about her history of domestic abuse during selection.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Definition of taint
Verb
  • Yet, money problems, sinister people and devastating setbacks also mar their experience.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 July 2026
  • He was elected in a landslide in July 2024, but quit after two years in office marred by missteps and judgment errors that eroded his standing with his party and the public.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Definition of mar
Verb
  • After spending her time being a wonderful mom, Tiny is ready for someone to spoil her.
    — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 17 July 2026
  • The snippets Quichocho saw online didn’t spoil the film for her.
    — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Definition of spoil
Verb
  • The only part of her person not stained are the white circles around her eyes.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
  • Drinking water after coffee can help reduce acidity and wash away staining compounds.
    — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 10 July 2026
Definition of stain
Verb
  • Not knowing she’d been poisoned and that it was related to Russian espionage, Rowley decided to run a few errands before joining her there.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Michael seemed to be saying that by admitting her dishonesty, Ethel would have ruined their childhood and poisoned any prospect of a future relationship with her.
    — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Definition of poison
Verb
  • In these areas, petunias won’t grow as well when temperatures fall to 40°F; the plants will darken, turn limp and mushy, and die away with the first hard frost.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 14 July 2026
  • Sun exposure can darken new scars permanently and slow their healing, so Min recommended keeping them covered as much as possible.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 13 July 2026
Definition of darken

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Cite this Entry

“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tarnish

Nglish: Translation of tarnish for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tarnish

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