Synonyms of tarnishing

tarnishing 1 of 2

noun

as in contamination

Related Words

• contamination
• sullying
• pollution
• debasement
• corruption
• perversion
• desecration
• blasphemy
• profanation
• defilement
• violation

Dissimilar Words

• purification
• restoration
• cleansing
• regeneration
• salvation
• grace
• redemption
• sanctification
• rebirth

tarnishing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of tarnish

as in marring

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable

a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• marring
• tainting
• spoiling
• poisoning
• darkening
• staining
• touching
• blemishing
• blackening
• discrediting
• degrading
• distorting
• lowering
• smearing
• vitiating
• corrupting
• polluting
• sullying
• besmirching
• soiling
• blurring
• discoloring
• disgracing
• clouding
• dirtying
• smudging
• dishonoring
• shaming
• debasing
• tarring
• cheapening
• perverting
• subverting
• sinking
• demeaning
• debauching
• fouling
• twisting
• abasing
• besmearing
• demoralizing
• smutting
• smirching
• bastardizing
• coloring
• depraving
• begriming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleansing
• purifying
• elevating
• magnifying
• uplifting
• glorifying
• enshrining
• dignifying
• ennobling
• hallowing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tarnishing

Noun

It’s made of 10K gold, so any tarnishing that happens down the line can likely be cleaned or polished away. — Olivia Dubyak, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026

Make sure to hand-wash any copper items or other precious metals to keep their shine and luster intact and avoid discoloration or tarnishing. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026

According to Jacqueline Kim, the account director at consulting firm DEH Jewelry Solutions, tarnishing occurs primarily due to chemical reactions between metals and elements in the environment, such as oxygen. — Shelby Ying Hyde, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2024

Verb

Crafted from stainless steel with a durable 14-karat gold PVD coating that's up to 10 times stronger than traditional plating, these pieces are designed to resist water, sweat, lotions and everyday wear without tarnishing or turning your skin green. — ABC News, 13 July 2026

These are formulated to restore chrome’s mirrorlike finish without tarnishing or damaging the plating. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026

Bambaataa denied the allegations in a statement that invoked a sense of conspiracy, and suggested that the accusers were agents intent on tarnishing his reputation. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

The Tate necklace has a stack of three chains, including a tennis, hera, and bezel-set, and is designed with a stainless steel protective coating that’s water-resistant, so it’s protected against tarnishing. — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026

After the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, athletes raised concerns that their awards, which famously included pieces of the Eiffel Tower, were tarnishing and corroding after the games. — Juliana Kim, NPR, 12 Feb. 2026

Simply putting a protective barrier like a regular cloth between your silver and the outside world wouldn’t be enough to stop tarnishing. — Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026

Watson stirred controversy late in life, tarnishing his reputation as a scientist in a series of racist remarks. — Christina Zdanowicz, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025

Internal rivalries, particularly between his sister and his chief adviser, spilled into public view, tarnishing the administration’s image. — María Victoria Murillo, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2025