tarnish
verb (used with object)
to dull the luster of (a metallic surface), especially by oxidation; discolor.
tarnished
-
past participleof tarnish.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof tarnish.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
tarnishverb (used with object)to dull the luster of (a metallic surface), especially by oxidation; discolor.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Boeing will mark another step in a marathon comeback Friday when it commemorates expanded production of the 737 MAX, now an aircraft in heavy demand after earlier disasters tarnished the company's reputation.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
And once tarnished, a brand rarely fully recovers.
From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2026
"We cannot allow ourselves to be tarnished in the same way."
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
Since then, other revelations have further tarnished the legacy of the Chicano labor and civil rights leader long considered a secular saint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
It is made of tarnished, dull metal, an Abnegation wedding band.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
