black mark

noun

: something that makes something else less perfect or less appealing
His habitual tardiness was a black mark against him.

Examples of black mark in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Braun also has the black mark of violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025 The punishment exacted on older women in past stories — the black mark society would apply to Romy if she was found out — becomes the backdrop for their erotic game. Amanda Hess, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025 Katrina has long been seen as a black mark on Bush’s presidency, one that hurt public confidence in his administration and hampered the effectiveness of his second term. Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025 But in the eyes of the Trump team, Mr. Levi has a black mark against his name. Jonathan Swan, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025 Trump’s legacy will depend on his success in preventing another global catastrophe from putting a black mark on his second term. Leslie Vinjamuri, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024 The decline in performance of the parks and the disenchantment from fans are a black mark on the resumé of Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences. Caroline Reid, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 The biggest black mark—one that’s almost impossible to ignore—is DEA’s dividend coverage. Brett Owens, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024 Another black mark on Biden: His grandchildren don’t do playdates with tech mogul offspring! Steven Levy, WIRED, 19 July 2024

Dictionary Entries Near black mark

Cite this Entry

“Black mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20mark. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

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