as in marred
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in unpolished
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tarnished
Atin Adhikari, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2025
If the copper is heavily tarnished, let the toothpaste's active ingredients work on the patina for ten minutes or so before buffing.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
Newer companies promising noble causes, in contrast, are not tarnished—or less tarnished, at least—which also appeals to idealistic young workers.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
Smollett also attributed his drive to rebuild his career despite his tarnished reputation to his desire to inspire his future children.
—Alyssa Davis, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
If anything, China is rising to the challenge of Arctic development made possible by failures in the West to fully develop its own remote Arctic territories, and to fully transcend its tarnished colonial histories.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
But that image has become tarnished.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Tesla’s brand has been badly tarnished since Musk became involved in politics.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 24 July 2025
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
But Mansell’s public record was forever tarnished.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
Corben’s film re-examine’s Deen’s life story, as well as the scandal that tarnished her reputation.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Suarez, one of the greatest strikers of his generation, has a history of disciplinary issues that has tarnished his legacy.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Newer companies promising noble causes, in contrast, are not tarnished—or less tarnished, at least—which also appeals to idealistic young workers.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
The project has also been tarnished by concerns surrounding governance, societal inequality, corruption and the environmental impact of largescale infrastructure schemes.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
Lance Armstrong was one of the most famous athletes in the world before a doping scandal tarnished his career.
—Emily Krauser, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
If so, will his influence in the upper chamber be tarnished?
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Farmers in Jenkins County, like many farmers, face numerous insect infestations, including stink bugs, cotton bollworms, corn earworms, tarnished plant bugs and aphids.
—Atin Adhikari, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2025
If the copper is heavily tarnished, let the toothpaste's active ingredients work on the patina for ten minutes or so before buffing.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
Newer companies promising noble causes, in contrast, are not tarnished—or less tarnished, at least—which also appeals to idealistic young workers.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
Smollett also attributed his drive to rebuild his career despite his tarnished reputation to his desire to inspire his future children.
—Alyssa Davis, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
If anything, China is rising to the challenge of Arctic development made possible by failures in the West to fully develop its own remote Arctic territories, and to fully transcend its tarnished colonial histories.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
But that image has become tarnished.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Tesla’s brand has been badly tarnished since Musk became involved in politics.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 24 July 2025
Adjective
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
But Mansell’s public record was forever tarnished.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
Corben’s film re-examine’s Deen’s life story, as well as the scandal that tarnished her reputation.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Suarez, one of the greatest strikers of his generation, has a history of disciplinary issues that has tarnished his legacy.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Newer companies promising noble causes, in contrast, are not tarnished—or less tarnished, at least—which also appeals to idealistic young workers.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
The project has also been tarnished by concerns surrounding governance, societal inequality, corruption and the environmental impact of largescale infrastructure schemes.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
Lance Armstrong was one of the most famous athletes in the world before a doping scandal tarnished his career.
—Emily Krauser, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
If so, will his influence in the upper chamber be tarnished?
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnished
Verb
-
The show was marred only by an audio mix that dimmed Coleman’s evocative voice amid a wash of instruments — at least from this reviewer’s spot in the Fox — but the Red Clay Strays’ impact shone through nevertheless.—
Brian McCollum,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
-
So long as Gabriel can avoid critical mistakes and turnovers that marred Joe Flacco's four-game stint as Cleveland's starter, the rookie should have a chance to keep the Browns in this contest and guide them to a second win over NFC North competition.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s why an unpolished moment on a stage as big as the Emmys lands harder than expected.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
While Manning was able to succeed as a runner, his passing abilities appeared largely unpolished, completing just 5 of his 16 pass attempts for 69 passing yards, with an interception to boot in the first half.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
King Charles’ brother, Prince Andrew, has been tainted by his own friendship with Epstein.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Just as social media makes legacy media apparatus look sluggish by comparison, prediction markets expose traditional polls and surveys for being tainted by bias (see the 2016 Clinton fiasco).—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Replace the stained, ripped, and pilling linens with crisp sets to refresh your bedding and ditch or repurpose the miscellaneous ones in your linen cabinet too.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
-
In his third season in Boulder, coach Deion Sanders continues to lament an issue that ruined his first season and stained his second.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Officials were previously awaiting toxicology results to determine whether the woman had been poisoned.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In March 2018, Ashley checked into a Florida hospital and alleged that Doug was abusive and poisoned her.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Here’s how to revive those dingy baseboards and bring back their color.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The couple spent 118 days — nearly four months — on their raft and dingy in the open water before they were rescued by chance by a passing Korean vessel.—
Susan Young,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ipswich Town spoiled the party in 1982, and West Ham United did so in 2021.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
My group chats blew up when the news was official, because about an hour prior certain music news social media accounts did their best Woj impression and spoiled the announcement with some of us not yet ready to call it, even if betting markets had Bunny as the favorite.—
Angel Diaz,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The pavilion’s interior was reminiscent of a military entertainment bar, with a dim red light, two screens placed on opposite walls, and a couple of microphones standing in the middle.—
Joanna Warsza,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Not even a month ago, Sasaki had a hurt shoulder and dim prospects for impacting the Dodgers in 2025.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnished. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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