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V2 Vocabulary Building Dictionary


tarnished

adjective

Definition: 1. having a dulled luster; 2. tainted or dirtied, especially said of a reputation

Synonyms: dingy, dull, faded, sullied, dirtied, tainted

Antonyms: shiny, bright, clean

Tips: Tarnished is derived from the Old French ternir, which means "dull the luster of." Tarnished is often used when describing a blemished reputation. The root word of tarnished is tarnish, which is both a noun and a verb, meaning "the dirt on a once-shiny object" (noun) or "to dirty or soil" (verb).

Usage Examples:

The politician hoped that his tarnished reputation would not deter people from voting for him. (sullied, tainted, dirtied)

She bought the tarnished silverware, knowing that after she polished it, she would be able to resell it for a profit. (dull, faded, dingy)

Once the scandal hits the newspapers, the actress's name will be tarnished forever. (sullied, tainted)

The incident at the holiday party tarnished my reputation at work, and I was forced to seek another job. (soiled, tainted, dirtied) verb


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