as in taints
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of tarnishes
Nothing tarnishes a league’s integrity more than a player or coach of that league gambling on it.
—
Geoff Clark Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Real silver also tarnishes over time, so older silver without any tarnish can be a red flag.
—
Amy Deyoung,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
This translated into a lot of polishing, as silver tarnishes pretty quickly when it’s exposed to things like air and water thanks to a chemical reaction between the silver and sulfur gases in the environment.
—
Elliott Harrell,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
Crowe believes that Maximus fathering a son with a woman other than his wife tarnishes his character's legacy, as the gladiator's primary motivation in the original film is to avenge the deaths of his wife and son.
—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
Ana Luisa Tired of budget-friendly jewelry that tarnishes after just a few wears?
—
Lauren Alexis Fisher,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Geoff Clark Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Real silver also tarnishes over time, so older silver without any tarnish can be a red flag.
—
Amy Deyoung,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
This translated into a lot of polishing, as silver tarnishes pretty quickly when it’s exposed to things like air and water thanks to a chemical reaction between the silver and sulfur gases in the environment.
—
Elliott Harrell,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
Crowe believes that Maximus fathering a son with a woman other than his wife tarnishes his character's legacy, as the gladiator's primary motivation in the original film is to avenge the deaths of his wife and son.
—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
Ana Luisa Tired of budget-friendly jewelry that tarnishes after just a few wears?
—
Lauren Alexis Fisher,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnishes
Verb
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That’s been an idiotic trope for too long — that participating in the business side of it taints you.
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The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.
Verb
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Jacob Whitehead Homophobic chant mars Mexico’s win Before the World Cup, the Mexican football federation launched a campaign that featured the heroes of the country’s 1986 World Cup side.
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No sadness mars the purity of its paranoia.
Verb
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Nothing spoils a good night's sleep quite like a hot, stuffy house.
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Even worse, some streams lag so far behind live that a text from a friend or app notification spoils a game-changing goal.
Verb
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Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until mixture darkens slightly, about 3 minutes.
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Citizen scientists are invited to build their own instrument to measure changes that occur in the atmosphere when the sky momentarily darkens.
Verb
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Despite her initial disinterest, Kara develops a personal stake when Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), the one who killed Ruthye's parents and brother, poisons her dog Krypto.
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In the film, Cady also poisons the family dog, Benjamin.
Verb
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When that protective finish gets damaged, the toilet actually stains easier and is harder to keep clean over time.
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What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.
Cite this Entry
“Tarnishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnishes. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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