TARNISH Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

tarnish

verb

ˈtär-nish

Definition of tarnish

as in to taint

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 For trophies tarnish And crowds grow still Time itself outlasts all the skill. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026 Steer clear of using them with alliums, eggs, vinegars, tomatoes, or shellfish so as not to tarnish the silver. — Clara Hillis, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026 The Pentagon's inadequate communication has tarnished trust and credibility among the American public, Congress and crucial regional allies who are facing Iranian attacks, three former military officials tell Lawrence. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 July 2026 Jingye Group said in a WeChat statement that the nationalization move tarnished the credibility of the British government, spooked international investors and caused great losses to the company’s operation and British taxpayers’ funds. — Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tarnish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnish

Verb

But the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned the murder convictions this May and ordered a retrial, saying Colleton County’s then-clerk tainted the first trial with what the defense said was prejudicial comments to the jury.

— Devon M. Sayers, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
How can someone from far away seize control of a water system and possibly shut off the flow or taint the water?

— William Akoto, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of taint

Verb

The firm, backed by SoftBank and Goldman Sachs, was marred by employees who pointed to Garg’s reputation for being a brash leader.

— Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Some cautioned that a prolonged war, especially one marred by a steady stream of American casualties and little visible progress, could eventually weigh on recruiting at the margins.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of mar

Verb

The Yankees, meanwhile, didn’t score again after Grisham’s homer, continuing an extended stretch that has seen the Bombers’ lifeless lineup repeatedly spoil stellar starting pitching.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Lake Nona turns the ball over on downs after a bad snap spoiled what looked like a promising drive.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of spoil

Verb

After his death, Bob’s became the de facto location for fans needing to pay homage to the beloved director, piled high with tributes of cigarettes, cans of Coke, donuts, slices of pie and tear-stained letters of gratitude.

— Amanda Karkoutly, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Clean the bowl with a toilet brush and cleaner once or twice a week to prevent mineral deposits from staining the toilet bowl.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of stain

Verb

Trump is also poisoning the process at a moment when the system for casting votes in the United States really does need shoring up.

— Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
An unknown person has been poisoning mature pine trees at Burnt Cedar Beach in Incline Village since 2022, with 16 more trees targeted this July and August — a case some suspect involves a wealthy resident trying to improve their view of Lake Tahoe.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of poison

Verb

The sky darkened suddenly, as if it had been turned down by a dimmer switch, and Decoteau frowned at a weather app on his phone.

— Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
The funeral was held less than a week after her signature song served as the soundtrack at celebrations marking a total eclipse that darkened skies across parts of Europe.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of darken

Browse Nearby Words

tarn

tarnish

tarnished

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnish. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tarnish

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on tarnish

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

august

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes