as in unpolished
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as in marred
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
a false accusation that nonetheless tarnished her reputation
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Recent Examples of tarnished
Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
But Chavez’s legacy became increasingly tarnished as the years went on.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Among critics and in press circles, Wahlberg is a bit of a tarnished superstar after that petulant display, but audiences still love their Jack Dawson.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Focus on tarnished areas, and be sure to be gentle.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite his tarnished public persona, some royal experts doubt that exile at Marsh Farm will suit Andrew for the rest of his life.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Fyre Fraud explores the class-action lawsuits and tarnished reputations that followed, offering a commentary on the dominance of influencer culture and social media propaganda.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
If the copper is heavily tarnished, let the toothpaste's active ingredients work on the patina for ten minutes or so before buffing.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
For many people in the country, and certainly critics of the royal family, these moves might not be enough to rehabilitate the monarchy’s tarnished reputation.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
John Tufts, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Newspaper reporting and books over the last 20 years had already tarnished the halo some affixed to Chávez after his death, Garcia said.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
The trouble tarnished one of the biggest days of the year in Cincinnati, which began with the annual Findlay Market parade and high hopes among Downtown-area businesses for a busy start to the Reds season.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2026
Anthropic said the designation violated its First Amendment rights, tarnished its reputation and jeopardized hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of contracts.
—Devan Cole, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
The injury tarnished an impressive return for Moody, who missed Golden State’s previous 10 games with a wrist injury.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
The reputation of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, one of the world’s biggest donors, is also getting tarnished.
—David Campbell, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Chamberlain had a long career in public service, but his name will forever be tarnished in the annals of history and remembered for one thing — appeasement.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2026
What a disappointment to have something so joyous tarnished by a dreadful reality where women are being belittled & disrespected for existing.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Things keep lining up against Microsoft , with all roads leading back to the company's tarnished standing as an artificial intelligence leader and how that could impact the company's Azure cloud growth.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
But Chavez’s legacy became increasingly tarnished as the years went on.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Among critics and in press circles, Wahlberg is a bit of a tarnished superstar after that petulant display, but audiences still love their Jack Dawson.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Focus on tarnished areas, and be sure to be gentle.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite his tarnished public persona, some royal experts doubt that exile at Marsh Farm will suit Andrew for the rest of his life.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Fyre Fraud explores the class-action lawsuits and tarnished reputations that followed, offering a commentary on the dominance of influencer culture and social media propaganda.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
If the copper is heavily tarnished, let the toothpaste's active ingredients work on the patina for ten minutes or so before buffing.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
For many people in the country, and certainly critics of the royal family, these moves might not be enough to rehabilitate the monarchy’s tarnished reputation.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Some companies have discovered their innocent shenanigans failed to delight audiences and instead tarnished their brands.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Newspaper reporting and books over the last 20 years had already tarnished the halo some affixed to Chávez after his death, Garcia said.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
The trouble tarnished one of the biggest days of the year in Cincinnati, which began with the annual Findlay Market parade and high hopes among Downtown-area businesses for a busy start to the Reds season.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2026
Anthropic said the designation violated its First Amendment rights, tarnished its reputation and jeopardized hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of contracts.
—Devan Cole, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
The injury tarnished an impressive return for Moody, who missed Golden State’s previous 10 games with a wrist injury.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
The reputation of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, one of the world’s biggest donors, is also getting tarnished.
—David Campbell, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Chamberlain had a long career in public service, but his name will forever be tarnished in the annals of history and remembered for one thing — appeasement.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2026
What a disappointment to have something so joyous tarnished by a dreadful reality where women are being belittled & disrespected for existing.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tarnished
Adjective
-
With three years of eligibility remaining, Rioux becomes one of the more intriguing players in the transfer portal for teams that can find a way to harness his size despite his unpolished game at the collegiate level.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Overall, the song retains Farley’s rustic, unpolished sense of connection, while bolstering it with a more full-bodied sound.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Their reunion tour — which was somehow not marred by any type of familial controversy — sold out stadiums around the world and overexcelled in every conceivable way, setting the template for what the future of band reunions could look like and solidifying their legacy.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The country remains marred by fighting in its east.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Institutional investors, such as German pension funds, saw the company as ethically tainted, and its stock price lagged far behind that of defense firms from other parts of Europe.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Ohio has seen fewer deaths but more risky behavior lately as fentanyl supplies dry up and people turn to substitutes tainted by animal tranquilizers.—
Kaitlin Coward,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Phillipe’s teeth were often as wine-stained as his customers’.—
Sammy Loren,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
His hands were stained navy blue.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What was once two city blocks of dingy industrial warehouses is now an alluring complex of stores, cafes, artist studios and event space meant to attract Fort Lauderdale’s burgeoning population of young professionals and South Floridians willing to drive from Miami and West Palm Beach.—
Amanda Rosa,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
After renting a dingy, Alvarez uploaded an image of the lobster’s release.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The new summer blockbuster will follow Supergirl's three-day mission to obtain a cure for her superdog and friend, Krypto, who is poisoned by villainous alien Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
That is, until Krypto is poisoned by the henchmen of villain Krem of the Yellow Hills, with only three days to save him.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Icon Park attraction will limit capacity, dim lighting, lower the music and disable stimulating exhibits.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The hall was dim and still surprisingly cool despite the gathering heat outside.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Alvarez spoiled both, then took a fastball over the outer half and turned to trudge back to his dugout.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The nightmarish sequence spoiled a night that began with the Angels showing more promising signs at the plate.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tarnished. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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