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
His arrest and subsequent trial blew it over like a house of cards, though, tarnishing Combs' reputation with claims of domestic abuse, intimidation and rampant drug use.
—
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Secondly, gear like strollers, car seats, and playpens not only occupy a lot of space, metal parts can tarnish if subjected to humidity.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
Weston believes the sense of escape the gardens provide from the nearby city will be forever tarnished if the Black Mountain development, with buildings as tall as 70 feet, is allowed to encroach upon the property.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Brass can tarnish more in some areas than others.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Secondly, gear like strollers, car seats, and playpens not only occupy a lot of space, metal parts can tarnish if subjected to humidity.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
Weston believes the sense of escape the gardens provide from the nearby city will be forever tarnished if the Black Mountain development, with buildings as tall as 70 feet, is allowed to encroach upon the property.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Brass can tarnish more in some areas than others.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
Verb
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That means Zaha will be suspended for Game 1 of the playoffs against NYCFC, which tainted an otherwise near-perfect evening for the home team.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
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In its new filing, Mangione’s defense team expressed concern about tainting the pool of prospective jurors.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though his career was marked by flashes of brilliance, including another 1,400-yard rushing season in 2015, it was also marred by injuries and off-field challenges.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
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But the country’s industrial innovation has also been marred by production overcapacity.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Wildcats spoiled the Nittany Lions' homecoming game, outscoring them 9-7 in the fourth quarter to just squeak out the win.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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The North Carolina Courage spoiled Bay FC’s last home game of the season Friday night as Manaka Matsukubo’s hat trick led to a resounding 4-1 win, matching the most lopsided home loss in Bay’s two-year history.—
Jon Becker,
Mercury News,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After washing new jeans, use a damp cloth to remove any lingering dyes that can stain the plastic parts and lid of your washing machine.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
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Police added that no evidence of postmortem fractures were found on the remains, adding that forensic investigators found soil adherence and staining that suggest the remains may have been in the ground for over five decades.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The plot was inspired by a Japanese news report that had deeply disturbed Woo, about a lunatic guilty of poisoning baby formula.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
19 Oct. 2025
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Investigators reportedly discovered evidence through online records that Gates allegedly purchased materials and attempted to carry out a plan to poison her husband.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As the skies darkened, 11 bird species sang more than usual.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
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Broil until chicken skin starts to darken in spots, about 4 minutes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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