Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

tarnish

 [tahr-nish]   Example Sentences Origin

tar·nish

   [tahr-nish]
verb (used with object)
1.
to dull the luster of (a metallic surface), especially by oxidation; discolor.
2.
to diminish or destroy the purity of; stain; sully: The scandal tarnished his reputation.
verb (used without object)
3.
to grow dull or discolored; lose luster.
4.
to become sullied.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Tarnish is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
noun
5.
a tarnished coating.
6.
tarnished condition; discoloration; alteration of the luster of a metal.
7.
a stain or blemish.
Origin:
1590–1600; < Middle French terniss-, long stem of ternir to dull, deaden, derivative of terne dull, wan < Germanic; compare Old High German tarni, cognate with Old Saxon derni, Old English dierne hidden, obscure; see -ish2

Related forms
tar·nish·a·ble, adjective
an·ti·tar·nish, adjective
an·ti·tar·nish·ing, adjective
non·tar·nish·a·ble, adjective
non·tar·nished, adjective
EXPAND
non·tar·nish·ing, adjective
un·tar·nish·a·ble, adjective
un·tar·nished, adjective
un·tar·nish·ing, adjective
COLLAPSE

Synonyms
2. taint, blemish, soil.

Antonyms
1. brighten.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To tarnish
Example Sentences
  • Economists said a one-week rise in new claims for state jobless aid did not tarnish the labor market picture.
  • Such incidents tarnish the image of fraternities as a locus of brotherhood.
  • It can undermine sales of legitimate products, deprive a company of its valuable intellectual property and tarnish its brand.
EXPAND
Collins
World English Dictionary
tarnish (ˈtɑːnɪʃ)
 
—vb
1.  to lose or cause to lose the shine, esp by exposure to air or moisture resulting in surface oxidation; discolour: silver tarnishes quickly
2.  to stain or become stained; taint or spoil: a fraud that tarnished his reputation
 
—n
3.  a tarnished condition, surface, or film
 
[C16: from Old French ternir to make dull, from terne lustreless, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German tarnen to conceal, Old English dierne hidden]
 
'tarnishable
 
—adj
 
'tarnisher
 
—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
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

tarnish
1598, from prp. stem of M.Fr. ternir "dull the luster or brightness of, make dim" (15c.), probably from O.Fr. adj. terne "dull, dark," from a Frank. source cognate with O.H.G. tarnjan "to conceal, hide," O.E. dyrnan "to hide, darken," from P.Gmc. *darnijaz, related to dark.
EXPAND
Figurative sense is from 1697. The noun is recorded from 1713.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT