had been besmirching

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of besmirch.
  besmirch

  verb (used with object)

  to soil; tarnish; discolor.

Related Words

• blacken
• defile
• dishonor
• slander
• smear
• smirch