tarnish

[ tahr-nish ]
See synonyms for: tarnishtarnishedtarnishes on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to dull the luster of (a metallic surface), especially by oxidation; discolor.

  2. to diminish or destroy the purity of; stain; sully: The scandal tarnished his reputation.

verb (used without object)
  1. to grow dull or discolored; lose luster.

  2. to become sullied.

noun
  1. a tarnished coating.

  2. tarnished condition; discoloration; alteration of the luster of a metal.

  1. a stain or blemish.

Origin of tarnish

1
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 -ish2

Other words for tarnish

Opposites for tarnish

Other words from tarnish

  • tar·nish·a·ble, adjective
  • an·ti·tar·nish, adjective
  • an·ti·tar·nish·ing, adjective
  • non·tar·nish·a·ble, adjective
  • non·tar·nished, adjective
  • non·tar·nish·ing, adjective
  • un·tar·nish·a·ble, adjective
  • un·tar·nished, adjective
  • un·tar·nish·ing, adjective

Words Nearby tarnish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tarnish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tarnish

tarnish

/ (ˈtɑːnɪʃ) /


verb
  1. to lose or cause to lose the shine, esp by exposure to air or moisture resulting in surface oxidation; discolour: silver tarnishes quickly

  2. to stain or become stained; taint or spoil: a fraud that tarnished his reputation

noun
  1. a tarnished condition, surface, or film

Origin of tarnish

1
C16: from Old French ternir to make dull, from terne lustreless, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German tarnen to conceal, Old English dierne hidden

Derived forms of tarnish

  • tarnishable, adjective
  • tarnisher, noun

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