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View synonyms for sully

sully

1

[ suhl-ee ]

verb (used with object)

, sul·lied, sul·ly·ing.
  1. to soil, stain, or tarnish.

    Synonyms: contaminate, blemish, taint

  2. to mar the purity or luster of; defile:

    to sully a reputation.

    Synonyms: dishonor, disgrace, dirty



verb (used without object)

, sul·lied, sul·ly·ing.
  1. to become sullied, soiled, or tarnished.

noun

, plural sul·lies.
  1. Obsolete. a stain; soil.

Sully

2

[ suhl-ee; French sy-lee ]

noun

  1. Ma·xi·mi·lien de Bé·thune [m, a, k-see-mee-, lyan, d, uh, bey-, tyn], Duc de, 1560–1641, French statesman.
  2. Thomas, 1783–1872, U.S. painter, born in England.

Sully

1

/ sylli; ˈsʌlɪ /

noun

  1. SullyMaximilien de Béthune, Duc de15591641MFrenchPOLITICS: statesman Maximilien de Béthune (maksimiljɛ̃ də betyn), Duc de Sully. 1559–1641, French statesman; minister of Henry IV. He helped restore the finances of France after the Wars of Religion
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


sully

2

/ ˈsʌlɪ /

verb

  1. to stain or tarnish (a reputation, etc) or (of a reputation) to become stained or tarnished
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a stain
  2. the act of sullying
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈsulliable, adjective
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Other Words From

  • sul·li·a·ble adjective
  • un·sul·li·a·ble adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sully1

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sully1

C16: probably from French souiller to soil
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Example Sentences

SPCA International has arranged foster care for Sully and Peggy, while efforts continue to reunite them with Weldon and Kurulgan.

From Time

Weldon worries that Sully, who he raised from a ball of fur that could barely stand to a healthy dog prancing around his Marine base, might forget him.

From Time

Sully told Keaney he “wanted to study something about basketball,” his favorite sport.

I begin to observe that it sounds as if Sully is in microcosm what Newman himself…but that is as far as I get.

In giving Sully a life, he gave the character some of his own life.

Sully decides to face the truth of what his negligence has sown.

But he was also showing a gritty and sully city in a beautiful way.

The Sully people catalogue a variety of reactions to today's job numbers.

All day long I sully sheet after sheet of paper and beguile the tedious hours with the half-faded recollections of my childhood.

He sent Sully over to cement the good understanding of the two States by arguments and gifts to the leading courtiers.

Sully was represented at the Philadelphia Academy by one hundred and sixteen pictures.

No pains were spared to sully his character, to ruin his fortunes, and to render him an object of public indignation.

There are, nevertheless, three or four female heads, of an ethereal beauty-portraits in the manner of Sully.

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Sullom VoeSully-Prudhomme