tarnish
Americanverb (used with object)
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tarnishes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
tarnished,
past participle, past
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tarnishing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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tarnishes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
tarnished,
past participle, past
-
tarnishing
present participle
-
to grow dull or discolored; lose luster.
-
to become sullied.
noun
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a tarnished coating.
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tarnished condition; discoloration; alteration of the luster of a metal.
-
a stain or blemish.
verb
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to lose or cause to lose the shine, esp by exposure to air or moisture resulting in surface oxidation; discolour
silver tarnishes quickly
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to stain or become stained; taint or spoil
a fraud that tarnished his reputation
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
tarnishernoun
-
antitarnishadjective
-
antitarnishingadjective
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nontarnishableadjective
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nontarnishedadjective
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nontarnishingadjective
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tarnishableadjective
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untarnishableadjective
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untarnishedadjective
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untarnishingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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tarnishsimple
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tarnishessimple
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have tarnishedperfect
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has tarnishedperfect
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am tarnishingprogressive
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are tarnishingprogressive
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is tarnishingprogressive
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have been tarnishingperfect progressive
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has been tarnishingperfect progressive
Past
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tarnishedsimple
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had tarnishedperfect
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was tarnishingprogressive
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were tarnishingprogressive
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had been tarnishingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of tarnish
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 -ish 2
Explanation
To tarnish is to become dull or discolored. Silver tends to tarnish easily, which is why your mother is always having you polish the family silver. As a noun, a tarnish is the dull layer of corrosion that sometimes forms on metal items, usually the result of the metal reacting to oxygen in the air. Metals are most likely to tarnish, but so can anything that once felt sparkly and bright but has lost its luster — even you. If the new kid just beat you in chess, your reputation as the best chess player in your class has started to tarnish. Better not lose again!
Vocabulary lists containing tarnish
List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
CBS News, historically cautious about any endeavors that could tarnish its legacy as a journalism organization, was the last of the traditional networks to get into e-commerce in 2022 after COVID-19 lockdowns depressed ad revenues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
"People have generally thought gold doesn't tarnish simply because it doesn't interact strongly with oxygen," said Matthew Montemore, associate professor in Chemical Engineering in Tulane's School of Science and Engineering.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026
But its recent stumbles could tarnish its reputation as the gold standard among airlines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
He denied the accusations in a statement, saying they "are baseless and are a cowardly attempt to tarnish my reputation and legacy in hip-hop at this time".
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
Ser Kevan had made his views plain during his last visit; her shame must not be allowed to tarnish the honor of easterly Rock.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
"Dubai was often talked about a bit like Switzerland, so this inevitably tarnishes that image."
From Barron's ● Mar. 1, 2026
“House of Diggs” is unsparing in its portrait of the corruption that tarnishes its subject’s memory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025
Their lawyers have said the case “alleges criminality where none exists and unfairly tarnishes the reputations of well-respected professionals,” per the Associated Press.
From Salon ● Feb. 21, 2024
"The SNP press office should retract this shameful attack which tarnishes the work both parties have done behind the scenes on this important issue."
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2023
The fair buildings were complete and all exhibits were in place, but just as surely as silver tarnishes, the fair became subject to the inevitable forces of degradation and decline—and tragedy.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Rubio, a sports lover more known for commentary on American football, said Belgium should be happy to play against a full US squad rather than have a tarnished match.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
And once tarnished, a brand rarely fully recovers.
From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2026
The financial crisis tarnished the Fed’s reputation, not just Greenspan’s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Air India, a loss-making airline belonging to the Tata Group, can ill-afford to see its brand tarnished.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Joaquin was standing behind them, almost like protection, and Grace steadied herself and reached out to the tarnished brass knocker shaped like a lion.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
Now, researchers at Tulane University have uncovered an important reason why the precious metal remains so resistant to tarnishing.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026
As early as 1859 the New York Times associated Cornelius Vanderbilt with the idea of the medieval robber baron, thus tarnishing the image of the country’s biggest shipowner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026
She took down the post after union veterans accused her of tarnishing the movement, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2026
Subtle localization—without tarnishing the brands’ global image—has been central to recent success, analysts told Barron’s.
From Barron's ● Mar. 7, 2026
But there was nothing there but what had always been there: empty ocean the color of pewter, tarnishing to black now as night fell.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
