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 Williams, who had filed counterclaims against Baumgarten for allegedly making false and defamatory statements about her and tarnishing her reputation, also voluntarily dismissed her suit at the same time. — Catherine Muccigrosso july 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026 For trophies tarnish And crowds grow still Time itself outlasts all the skill. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026 Steer clear of using them with alliums, eggs, vinegars, tomatoes, or shellfish so as not to tarnish the silver. — Clara Hillis, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026 The Pentagon's inadequate communication has tarnished trust and credibility among the American public, Congress and crucial regional allies who are facing Iranian attacks, three former military officials tell Lawrence. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 July 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
  • In July, the US was hit with a wave of explosive diarrhea caused by an outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that spreads through food and water tainted with human feces.
    — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The president has pointed to Cohen’s reversal in the Daniels case as evidence that his own conviction on 34 felony counts was tainted.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of taint
Verb
  • The firm, backed by SoftBank and Goldman Sachs, was marred by employees who pointed to Garg’s reputation for being a brash leader.
    — Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Some cautioned that a prolonged war, especially one marred by a steady stream of American casualties and little visible progress, could eventually weigh on recruiting at the margins.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of mar
Verb
  • Cloud Residence spoils you even further with one pool on the terrace and another pool and a hot tub on its roof.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The seeming confirmation that Cyberleek has a full build, likely from 2025, opens the door to the possibility that the story of GTA VI could start being spoiled.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of spoil
Verb
  • After his death, Bob’s became the de facto location for fans needing to pay homage to the beloved director, piled high with tributes of cigarettes, cans of Coke, donuts, slices of pie and tear-stained letters of gratitude.
    — Amanda Karkoutly, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Clean the bowl with a toilet brush and cleaner once or twice a week to prevent mineral deposits from staining the toilet bowl.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of stain
Verb
  • Trump is also poisoning the process at a moment when the system for casting votes in the United States really does need shoring up.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • An unknown person has been poisoning mature pine trees at Burnt Cedar Beach in Incline Village since 2022, with 16 more trees targeted this July and August — a case some suspect involves a wealthy resident trying to improve their view of Lake Tahoe.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of poison
Verb
  • The sky darkened suddenly, as if it had been turned down by a dimmer switch, and Decoteau frowned at a weather app on his phone.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The funeral was held less than a week after her signature song served as the soundtrack at celebrations marking a total eclipse that darkened skies across parts of Europe.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of darken

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tarn
tarnish
tarnished
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Cite this Entry

“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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