sully

1 of 2

verb

sul·​ly ˈsə-lē 

sullied; sullying

transitive verb

: to make soiled or tarnished : defile

sully

2 of 2

noun

plural sullies

archaic

: soil, stain

Synonyms

Verb

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

Examples of sully in a Sentence

Verb

people that sully our state parks with their trash

a once-gleaming marble interior sullied by decades of exposure to cigarette smoke

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Nothing in life is ever just better or worse, purer or more sullied. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2024

Here, his white knight’s armor is sullied before his face is scarred, and how that fits this version of Gotham City makes for a fitting rallying cry all its own. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2024

Oh the incorruptible queen sullies herself with a lover. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024

When given the chance to restore their minds to their original bodies, Stark in Doom’s body refuses, saying he’s made the name Doom mean something good, while the name Stark has been sullied. —Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English *sullien, probably alteration (influenced by Anglo-French suillier, soiller to soil) of sulen to soil, from Old English sylian

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1601, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

sully

verb

sul·​ly

ˈsəl-ē

sullied; sullying

: to make soiled or tarnished

Biographical Definition

Sully 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Sul·​ly ˈsə-lē 

(ˌ)sə-ˈlē,

sᵫ-ˈlē

Duc de 1560–1641 Maximilien de Béthune Baron de Rosny də-rō-ˈnē  French statesman

Sully

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Sul·​ly ˈsə-lē 

Thomas 1783–1872 American (English-born) painter