as in unpolished
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as in marred
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation
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Recent Examples of tarnished
Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite his tarnished public persona, some royal experts doubt that exile at Marsh Farm will suit Andrew for the rest of his life.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Fyre Fraud explores the class-action lawsuits and tarnished reputations that followed, offering a commentary on the dominance of influencer culture and social media propaganda.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
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, 30 Jan. 2026
The election chaos represents the culmination of an increasingly tarnished human rights record by Tanzania in recent months, with all eyes on international observers and countries following the polls.
—Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
For many people in the country, and certainly critics of the royal family, these moves might not be enough to rehabilitate the monarchy’s tarnished reputation.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Before essentially becoming a tarnished player, Rozier starred at the University of Louisville for two seasons before becoming the 16th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
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
Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 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
Then apply the paste directly to tarnished silver or stainless steel using a soft cloth.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
The 72-year-old Labour politician is a contentious figure whose career has been tarnished with scandals over money or ethics.
—Jill Lawless, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
Their competition reignited interest in baseball, but both became tied to the sport's steroid scandal that tarnished their reputations and has kept them out of the Hall of Fame.
—CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Keep yourself above reproach for the next week to avoid getting tarnished by association.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Reputations have been tarnished, in some cases irrevocably.
—Diana Paulsen, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
The public tussle tarnished the Burbank company’s clean image and undermined its goal of entertaining the masses, no matter their political stripes.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Focus on tarnished areas, and be sure to be gentle.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite his tarnished public persona, some royal experts doubt that exile at Marsh Farm will suit Andrew for the rest of his life.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Fyre Fraud explores the class-action lawsuits and tarnished reputations that followed, offering a commentary on the dominance of influencer culture and social media propaganda.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
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, 30 Jan. 2026
The election chaos represents the culmination of an increasingly tarnished human rights record by Tanzania in recent months, with all eyes on international observers and countries following the polls.
—Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
For many people in the country, and certainly critics of the royal family, these moves might not be enough to rehabilitate the monarchy’s tarnished reputation.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Before essentially becoming a tarnished player, Rozier starred at the University of Louisville for two seasons before becoming the 16th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
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
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
Then apply the paste directly to tarnished silver or stainless steel using a soft cloth.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
The 72-year-old Labour politician is a contentious figure whose career has been tarnished with scandals over money or ethics.
—Jill Lawless, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
Their competition reignited interest in baseball, but both became tied to the sport's steroid scandal that tarnished their reputations and has kept them out of the Hall of Fame.
—CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Keep yourself above reproach for the next week to avoid getting tarnished by association.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Reputations have been tarnished, in some cases irrevocably.
—Diana Paulsen, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
The public tussle tarnished the Burbank company’s clean image and undermined its goal of entertaining the masses, no matter their political stripes.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnished
Adjective
-
Parker and his team wanted a sense of heart conveyed through the playful, tuneful, unpolished score.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The Snodgrass version of the Van Nostrand was on display on a nearby table, unpolished.—
Ben McGrath,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The issue, which can arise within minutes, is that no matter how careful, how neurotic, how cautious someone is, inevitably the shiny piano black plastic trim gets scratched, knicked, and or marred rapidly as a car is used.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The Democratic contest was marred by voting issues affecting the state’s second-largest county, which caused confusion around ballot eligibility.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Is there something tainted or cursed about this place?—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Worn Clothing Do not fill your dresser drawers with garments that have seen better days to the point that they're torn or stained.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Set in a landscape stained by red clay and bad blood, villainy is commonplace.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
If your outdoor rug is looking a little dingy, or worse, a little soap and water and some spot-cleaning can get rid of grime and stains and get it back to a presentable state.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
-
And yet, the artists are still here, and their music survives, cropping up in dingy basements and bar back rooms.—
Taran Dugal,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Nicholas and three of his playmates at the day care were poisoned by the lethal opioid, which the owners stored in a nap room, officials said.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Other witnesses could include relatives of the defendant and her late husband, and friends of Eric Richins who have recounted phone conversations from the day prosecutors say he was first poisoned by his wife of nine years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Though the system managed only a dim glow, Lorna was still grateful for the flick of a switch rather than the toil of refilling oil lamps and trimming candles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
-
For Kaine and his allies, the immediate prospects are dim.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Vegas spoiled Gustavsson’s shutout bid early in the third with a Pavel Dorofeyev goal on their first power play of the game.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
7 Mar. 2026
-
When the power fails, businesses close, employees lose wages, and spoiled inventory piles up.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnished. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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