tarnish
[verb]
Synonyms:
- stain, blacken, blemish, blot, darken, discolour, sully, taint
[noun]
Synonyms:
- stain, blemish, blot, discoloration, spot, taint

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Antonyms: polish
Contrasted words: clean, cleanse, shine (up)
Related Words: contaminate, defile, pollute, stain, taint, defame, disgrace, embarrass, slander

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. tar‧nish¹ /ˈtɑːnɪʃ $ ˈtɑːr-/ verb
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: ternir 'to make dull']

1. [transitive] if an event or fact tarnishes someone’s reputation, record, image etc, it makes it worse:
His regime was tarnished by human rights abuses.

2. [intransitive and transitive] if metals such as silver, copper, or brass tarnish, or if something tarnishes them, they become dull and lose their colour:
Gold does not tarnish easily.
tarnished silver spoons

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. tarnish² noun [singular, uncountable]
dullness of colour, or loss of brightness

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

tarnish
verb
I. become/make sth less bright
ADV. badly The mirror had tarnished quite badly.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

tarnish
II. spoil sth
ADV. severely their severely tarnished reputation

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲