smirch
Use Smirch in a sentence
verb (used with object)
1.
to discolor or soil; spot or smudge with or as with soot, dust, dirt, etc.
2.
to sully or tarnish (a person, reputation, character, etc.); disgrace; discredit.
noun
3.
a dirty mark or smear, as of soot, dust, dirt, etc.
4.
a stain or blot, as on reputation.
Origin:
1485–95; origin uncertain
1485–95; origin uncertain
Related forms
smirch·less, adjective
un·smirched, adjective
Synonyms
1. smear, smut, dirty. 2. taint, blot. 3. smudge, smut, smutch. 4. taint.
1. smear, smut, dirty. 2. taint, blot. 3. smudge, smut, smutch. 4. taint.
Antonyms
1. clean.
1. clean.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To smirch
00:10
Smirch
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is peculate. Does it mean:
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
smirch (smɜːtʃ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to dirty; soil |
| —n | |
| 2. | the act of smirching or state of being smirched |
| 3. | a smear or stain |
| [C15 smorchen, of unknown origin] | |
| 'smircher | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
smirch
1495, "to discolor, to make dirty," perhaps from O.Fr. esmorcher "to torture," perhaps also "befoul, stain," from es- "out" + morcher "to bite," from L. morsus, pp. of mordere "to bite" (see smart (v.)). Sense of "dishonor, disgrace, discredit" first attested 1820.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
There was not a smirch on their public records, or scandal to shadow their characters.
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