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

---

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

---

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

See Examples For:

smirch

"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

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

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

Typical of the things which smirch the character of Judge English, as they were brought forth by Congressmen: A bootlegger sentenced by Judge English to four months in jail paid Mr. Thomas $2,500.

From Time Magazine Archive

And therefore, as the love-letters arose from that occasion they ought to be referred to it, and not to a dishonourable wish to smirch her conjugal faith to her husband.

From The Old Yellow Book Source of Robert Browning's The Ring and the Book by Anonymous