as in to stain
to make dirty
people that sully our state parks with their trash a once-gleaming marble interior sullied by decades of exposure to cigarette smoke
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Recent Examples of sully
Nothing in life is ever just better or worse, purer or more sullied.
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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
See all Example Sentences for sully 
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
See all Example Sentences for sully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sully
Verb
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The clay could have been put onto the bone directly, or the bone could have been held in a cloth already stained with red ochre.Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
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The assault permanently stained Yarrow's reputation, particularly in the #MeToo era, as he was regularly disinvited from events once his name became known as a performing guest.Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Eaton fire, which started after the Palisades blaze in the Altadena area, has blackened more than 14,000 acres, destroyed or damaged 7,000 homes and other structures, and killed 17 people, officials say.Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
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Hands blackened from picking through the rubble of what was left of his home camp.Will Carless, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Having dirtied himself in the catacombs beneath the papacy’s home, our scrappy archaeologist emerges into none other than a resplendent re-creation of the Sistine Chapel.Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
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Arizona Republic Cool weather and the holiday season may seem like the perfect excuse to cozy up by the fire, but too many blazing yule logs can dirty the air and put some of your neighbors at risk.Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Images illustrating the reality versus carefully edited Instagram selfies have somewhat besmirched Santorini’s romantic reputation of late.Helen Iatrou, AFAR Media, 16 Dec. 2024
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There’s a new promo picture going around showing a Dusty Milligan with facial hair (see: above) — and listen, not to besmirch his infinity-pool jawline, but the dude looks so much better with that scruff.Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Capitalism is degrading us, killing us and befouling our world.Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 8 June 2023
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At a 2019 commencement address, Mr. Adams told a story about intimidating a neighbor whose dog was befouling his yard.Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 1 June 2023
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Cite this Entry
“Sully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sully. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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