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
Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
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
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
Reuters, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
But in 2022, Maserati reminded us that there’s another Italian car company, with a rich 108-year history and a respected name, but one that has been tarnished by missteps and muddled strategies in recent years.
—Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2025
Your competition will be tarnished if the match goes ahead.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Each person has, or had, prominent roles in the NBA, but now, their legacies are seemingly tarnished.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
His subsequent disqualification, however, tarnished the Olympic Games’ blue riband event and was one of the biggest news stories in the world in the summer of ’88.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Poor fire and building safety standards lead to dozens of such disasters in Bangladesh each year, and past accidents have tarnished the South Asian country’s garments sector, which employs 4 million people and makes up more than 10% of the gross domestic product.
—Reuters, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
Before our very eyes, left-wing radicals toppled his statues, vandalized his monuments, tarnished his character, and sought to exile him from our public spaces.
—Addy Bink, The Hill, 12 Oct. 2025
The greenheart wood planks are intact; the name plaque on the stern is barely tarnished.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
But there’s also things like estate jewelry, art, and antiques for sale as well as a restoration team to revive tarnished or damaged silver and crystal pieces.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
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
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
Verb
In his later years, Watson's reputation was tarnished by comments on genetics and race that led him to be ostracized by the scientific establishment.
—Reuters, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
But in 2022, Maserati reminded us that there’s another Italian car company, with a rich 108-year history and a respected name, but one that has been tarnished by missteps and muddled strategies in recent years.
—Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2025
Your competition will be tarnished if the match goes ahead.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Each person has, or had, prominent roles in the NBA, but now, their legacies are seemingly tarnished.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
His subsequent disqualification, however, tarnished the Olympic Games’ blue riband event and was one of the biggest news stories in the world in the summer of ’88.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Poor fire and building safety standards lead to dozens of such disasters in Bangladesh each year, and past accidents have tarnished the South Asian country’s garments sector, which employs 4 million people and makes up more than 10% of the gross domestic product.
—Reuters, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
Before our very eyes, left-wing radicals toppled his statues, vandalized his monuments, tarnished his character, and sought to exile him from our public spaces.
—Addy Bink, The Hill, 12 Oct. 2025
The greenheart wood planks are intact; the name plaque on the stern is barely tarnished.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnished
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
-
This dynamic marred the 2012-13 Hurricane Sandy package and has recurred in other disaster bills, not because relief is illegitimate but because speed plus political cover invites provisions that would die in regular order.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Sook’s comments followed Nexstar’s report of quarterly results, which were marred by the absence of political advertising compared with the same quarter in 2024.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The lawsuit seeks restitution, punitive damages, and a court order requiring Spotify to disclose whether Discovery Mode is tainted by money or royalty deals.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
5 Nov. 2025
-
From the very start, hope around the target was tainted by doubt.—
Sophie Yeo,
The Dial,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Worn Plastic Containers Are your plastic containers stained, smelly, cracked, half-melted, or turning rough like sandpaper?—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The costume, which has made waves online, features Fox in a pink suit stained with fake blood, meant to resemble the former first lady shortly after the assassination of her husband.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Finally, dingy, discolored, or stringy towels need to get the heave-ho.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The movie begins in the 1950s with Springsteen’s mother, Adele (Gabby Hoffman), driving a young Bruce (Matthew Anthony Pellicano) up to a dingy bar and asking him to go inside.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Notions had persisted that Brahe was poisoned to death with mercury, but later analyses of his bones and teeth disproved the idea.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
There’s often an arch detachment where the singer tries to pretend as though they haven’t actually been poisoned by being online themselves.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The future of the 25-acre park in Alpine remains dim after a San Diego County judge ruled in the summer that county planners failed to abide by California’s environmental law in developing the project.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Still, as more time passes, others feel that the fate of finding the historic jewels looks dim.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Toronto Blue Jays nearly ended their 32-year World Series drought, but the Los Angeles Dodgers spoiled their hopes in Game 7.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Staff members spoiled him with attention, and Burrow left looking fluffy, clean, and happy for the rest of the day.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnished. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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