smirch

verb

ˈsmərch 

smirched; smirching; smirches

transitive verb

1

a

: to make dirty, stained, or discolored : sully

b

: to smear with something that stains or dirties

2

: to bring discredit or disgrace on

smirch noun

Synonyms

• befoul
• begrime
• bemire
• besmirch
• blacken
• daub
• dirty
• distain [archaic]
• foul
• gaum [dialect]
• grime
• mire
• muck
• muddy
• smudge
• soil
• stain
• sully

Examples of smirch in a Sentence

their clothes were smirched by dust from the trail

this scandal will forever smirch the name of a once-great family

Word History

Etymology

Middle English smorchen

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

smirch

verb

ˈsmərch 

1

: to make dirty, stained, or discolored especially by smearing with something that soils

2

: to bring discredit or disgrace on

smirch noun