Synonyms for tarnish
ˈtɑr nɪʃtar·nish

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.8 / 4 votes

1. tarnish

   Whatever mars the beauty or completeness of an object is a blemish, whether original, as squinting eyes, or the result of accident or disease, etc., as the pits of smallpox. A blemish is superficial; a flaw or taint is in structure or substance. In the moral sense, we speak of a blot or stain upon reputation; a flaw or taint in character. A defect is the want or lack of something; fault, primarily a failing, is something that fails of an apparent intent or disappoints a natural expectation; thus a sudden dislocation or displacement of geological strata is called a fault. Figuratively, a blemish comes from one's own ill-doing; a brand or stigma is inflicted by others; as, the brand of infamy.

   Synonyms:
   blemish, blot, blur, brand, crack, daub, defacement, defect, deformity, dent, disfigurement, disgrace, dishonor, fault, flaw, imperfection, injury, reproach, smirch, soil, speck, spot, stain, stigma, taint

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. tarnish

   Synonyms:
   bedim, bedarken, dull, stain

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. tarnishverb

   discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation

2. tarnish, stain, maculate, sully, defileverb

   make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically

   "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man"

   Synonyms:
   calumniate, maculate, asperse, smear, denigrate, slander, defile, corrupt, sully, stain, besmirch, smirch, defame, foul, taint, cloud, befoul

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. tarnishverb

   Synonyms:
   soil, stain, sully, deface, discolor, dull, blemish

2. tarnishnoun

   Synonyms:
   soil, stain, spot, blemish, blot

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. tarnishverb

   Synonyms:
   dim, sully, besmirch, blacken, deface

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "tarnish":

   besmirch, sully

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How to use tarnish in a sentence?

1. Rick Saccone:

   I decided to resign for the betterment of the school, i've been there 21 years. I didn't want all this terrible media kerfuffle to tarnish the school. I decided it would be better if I just resigned.

2. Brandon Greenberg:

   We sincerely apologize if we offended anyone or if any images were use inappropriately, this was inspired from an image that was obtained from a meme circulating around social media. This was by no means part of an advertising campaign intended to tarnish the Sesame Street brand, but we recognize the issue and all versions of this image have been removed from all Mately websites and social media pages.

3. Dan Marino:

   You think about the run that coach Belichick and Tom Brady have had together, it's as good as any that's been in the league. I don't think it would tarnish anything.

4. Hamid Babaei:

   This is a baseless and unfounded allegation fabricated to tarnish the Iranian government image, particularly aimed at hampering current nuclear talks.

5. Martin Ginsburg:

   And no matter where we are on the political spectrum, the one thing that each of us feels deeply is we want to leave that institution in as good a shape as we found it, we do not want to do anything to tarnish the court's reputation.