smirch

American  

[smurch] / smɜrtʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to discolor or soil; spot or smudge with or as with soot, dust, dirt, etc.

   Synonyms:

   dirty, smut, smear

   Antonyms:

   clean

2. to sully or tarnish (a person, reputation, character, etc.); disgrace; discredit.

   Synonyms:

   blot, taint

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noun

1. a dirty mark or smear, as of soot, dust, dirt, etc.

   Synonyms:

   smutch, smut, smudge

2. a stain or blot, as on reputation.

   Synonyms:

   taint

smirch British  

/ smɜːtʃ /

verb

1. to dirty; soil

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noun

1. the act of smirching or state of being smirched

2. a smear or stain

Other Word Forms

• smircher noun
• smirchless adjective
• unsmirched adjective

Etymology

Origin of smirch

First recorded in 1485–95; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

"It's a smirch that never goes away.... If you dedicated yourself to serving the good, how would you cope with that?"

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2014

Edward Graeb, called in from the Juvenile Bureau: "We do not intend to smirch the reputations of the high-school girls, most of whom are of prominent families."

From Time Magazine Archive

This record is stained by but one smirch: a year ago a painter succeeded in executing a work which the Society felt it was unable to present.

From Time Magazine Archive

High Priest: John Thomas Taylor you be smirch with former association, making it appear that wrongs have been committed in the name of the Legion; that birds of a feather flock together.

From Time Magazine Archive

She was evidently quite proud of her handsome daughter and that anything should come up to smirch her name cut her deeply.

From The Social Gangster by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)