English Explanatory Dictionary

besmirch

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To make dirty.
  2. To tarnish something, especially someone's reputation.

Pronunciation

/bɪˈsmɜːtʃ/ /bɪˈsmɝːt͡ʃ/ en-us-besmirch.ogg en-au-besmirch.ogg

Word forms

besmirch besmirches besmirching besmirched

Etymology

From Middle English besmorchen (attested in besmorchid). Compare Middle English bismotered (“bespattered, soiled”). By surface analysis, be- + smirch.

Synonyms

soil sully tarnish assoil beclart bedaub bedirty imbrue (especially with blood) bedizen befile befilth befoul begrime beray beshit besmear besmirch besully bewray blacken blot blur clat contaminate darken defile dirten dirty elt file foil foul gunk gunk up inquinate scunge sling mud slotter slur smear smirch smudge smut smutch soss sowl spot stain sullow uggle debase libel slander assassinate asperse backbite badmouth belibel blame blaze

Antonyms

unbesmirch

Derived words

besmircher besmirchment unbesmirch unbesmirchable unbesmirched
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