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
Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
But Chavez’s legacy became increasingly tarnished as the years went on.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Among critics and in press circles, Wahlberg is a bit of a tarnished superstar after that petulant display, but audiences still love their Jack Dawson.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
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
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
David Campbell, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Chamberlain had a long career in public service, but his name will forever be tarnished in the annals of history and remembered for one thing — appeasement.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 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
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
Adjective
Things keep lining up against Microsoft , with all roads leading back to the company's tarnished standing as an artificial intelligence leader and how that could impact the company's Azure cloud growth.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
But Chavez’s legacy became increasingly tarnished as the years went on.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Among critics and in press circles, Wahlberg is a bit of a tarnished superstar after that petulant display, but audiences still love their Jack Dawson.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
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
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
Verb
The reputation of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, one of the world’s biggest donors, is also getting tarnished.
—David Campbell, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Chamberlain had a long career in public service, but his name will forever be tarnished in the annals of history and remembered for one thing — appeasement.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnished
Adjective
-
Natural materials, like unpolished wood and linen, are juxtaposed with sleek, modern furnishings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Parker and his team wanted a sense of heart conveyed through the playful, tuneful, unpolished score.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But his first year in Philly was marred by knee and adductor injuries that resulted in the forward having one of the worst years of his NBA career.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
However, Brendon’s later career was marred by both physical and mental health issues; the actor underwent spinal surgeries in 2021, followed a year later by a heart attack caused by a congenital heart defect.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Institutional investors, such as German pension funds, saw the company as ethically tainted, and its stock price lagged far behind that of defense firms from other parts of Europe.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Ohio has seen fewer deaths but more risky behavior lately as fentanyl supplies dry up and people turn to substitutes tainted by animal tranquilizers.—
Kaitlin Coward,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Phillipe’s teeth were often as wine-stained as his customers’.—
Sammy Loren,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
His hands were stained navy blue.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What was once two city blocks of dingy industrial warehouses is now an alluring complex of stores, cafes, artist studios and event space meant to attract Fort Lauderdale’s burgeoning population of young professionals and South Floridians willing to drive from Miami and West Palm Beach.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
-
And in spite of those popular posters of colorful doors on homes of Edwardian grandeur, Dublin was primarily a damp and dingy city of browns and greys.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Any one of them can be poisoned.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
21 Mar. 2026
-
In Alabama, the punishment for this audacity had most often involved waking up to her family’s dogs poisoned in the night.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Paula notices that every time her husband leaves the house, the lights in the home dim minutes later.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
This will render research, innovation and societal advances as dim, undetectable versions of themselves, restricting the country’s ability to lead globally in addressing the most pressing issues of our times.—
Jane M. Saks,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Alvarez spoiled both, then took a fastball over the outer half and turned to trudge back to his dugout.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The nightmarish sequence spoiled a night that began with the Angels showing more promising signs at the plate.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnished. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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