tarnish

verb

ˈtär-nish How to pronounce tarnish (audio)
Definition of tarnishnext
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tarnish Secondly, gear like strollers, car seats, and playpens not only occupy a lot of space, but metal parts can tarnish if subjected to humidity. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026 His reputation was tarnished, however, by the global financial crisis which struck a decade later. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 22 June 2026 But Hartmann cautions that could tarnish the feel-good vibes on social media, should his administration try to leverage all the goodwill to push a particular narrative. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 June 2026 The opposition vastly outspent the proponents, but analysts also attributed the loss to the lack of voter trust in city government, where years of fiscal struggles and bad real estate transactions have tarnished City Hall’s image. — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tarnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish
  1. taint
  2. mar
  3. spoil
  4. stain
  5. poison
  6. darken
Verb
  • That experience is quickly tainted, however, once dullness and yellowing set into the fabrics.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • Murdaugh’s attorneys appealed the convictions, saying the trial was tainted by the county clerk Becky Hill’s inappropriate comments to jurors implying his guilt.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Definition of taint
Verb
  • The World Cup group stage was marred for fans whose experiences mirrored Ramroop’s, leading FIFA and third-party platforms like StubHub to point fingers at each other amid the fallout.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
  • His previous loan at Girona was marred by injuries, impacting his World Cup aspirations.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of mar
Verb
  • Whether they're getting greased after a Super Bowl or spoiling All-Star rosters, does any city's poles get as much attention as Philadelphia's?
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
  • Both suet and hummingbird nectar are very susceptible to spoiling from the heat.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of spoil
Verb
  • Semi-sheer, marbled accent nails look like they’ve been stained with blackberry juice.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 29 June 2026
  • Dressing up for warmer weather can be a challenge since plush fabrics like silk can easily stain and aren’t as breathable.
    — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026
Definition of stain
Verb
  • The special bond between Supergirl and her scruffy animal sidekick becomes a key plot point in Kara’s new solo movie, where Krypto is poisoned by space outlaw Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).
    — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Kara Zor-El (Alcock) goes on a planet-hopping mission to save her beloved Krypto – with young and vengeful girl Ruthye (Eve Ridley) in tow – after he’s poisoned by the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 June 2026
Definition of poison
Verb
  • Auto-correct tools generally brighten photos, but this one also knows when an image needs darkening.
    — Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026
  • Its most dramatic attack occurred last week, when hundreds of drones overwhelmed Moscow’s air defenses and hit refineries and storage tanks, sending up black plumes of smoke that darkened the sky.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2026
Definition of darken

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Cite this Entry

“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tarnish

Nglish: Translation of tarnish for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tarnish

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