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
Dry the globes thoroughly with a dry cloth to prevent tarnish.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
What a disappointment to have something so joyous tarnished by a dreadful reality where women are being belittled & disrespected for existing.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
This natural cleaner will gently lift away tarnish without scratching your ring.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
Or is this a one-of-one moment, the answer to a trivia question about a dunk contest that blends with the other forgettable ones that have tarnished the reputation of the event?
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
What a disappointment to have something so joyous tarnished by a dreadful reality where women are being belittled & disrespected for existing.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
This natural cleaner will gently lift away tarnish without scratching your ring.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
Or is this a one-of-one moment, the answer to a trivia question about a dunk contest that blends with the other forgettable ones that have tarnished the reputation of the event?
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
Verb
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Once a sky-blue democracy is restored, may Trump’s days of infamy be ruled illegitimate and his name and legacy duly tainted by all of history, darkly blackened or cautiously reddened in the honest records that this twerp and his twisted cohorts have conspired so heinously to whitewash.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Is there something tainted or cursed about this place?—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Panthers’ season has been marred by injuries and players running on fumes in the aftermath of three consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup Final, including winning it all each of the past two years.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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Hendrickson, whose final two seasons in Cincinnati were marred by contract questions, was said to be holding out for a deal that would pay him $30 million per year.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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We’ve been spoiled in recent years.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
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Unplugging these large appliances risks spoiling everything inside.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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No more worrying about whether my teeth are wine-stained at dinner and no reason to feel guilty about that second (or third) espresso hit.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
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Then the wood must dry, then be sanded, stained and carved.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The false death of Nicholas Bell (David Morse) — which evolved from a heart attack and Bailey’s grandfather being poisoned — brought malicious forces out of the woodwork.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2026
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Chronic mold poisoning our children.—
Sumathy Kumar,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Attacks on celebration The latest anti-DEI attack (House Bill 1001/Senate Bill 1134) to darken the state Legislature’s doors was envisioned, at least partially, as an official antidote to joy.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
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The technology works by altering how light interacts with the textile so that the fabric doesn’t visibly darken when wet.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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