tarnish
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
-
to grow dull or discolored; lose luster.
-
to become sullied.
noun
-
a tarnished coating.
-
tarnished condition; discoloration; alteration of the luster of a metal.
-
a stain or blemish.
verb
-
to lose or cause to lose the shine, esp by exposure to air or moisture resulting in surface oxidation; discolour
silver tarnishes quickly
-
to stain or become stained; taint or spoil
a fraud that tarnished his reputation
noun
Other Word Forms
- antitarnish adjective
- antitarnishing adjective
- nontarnishable adjective
- nontarnished adjective
- nontarnishing adjective
- tarnishable adjective
- tarnisher noun
- untarnishable adjective
- untarnished adjective
- untarnishing adjective
Etymology
Origin of tarnish
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; -ish 2
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.
Shares of gold miners have been in the dumps this month, as investors have expressed fears over how the Iran war will tarnish the value of the precious metal.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026
For better or worse, the government can tarnish a defendant’s reputation by releasing investigative materials that make them look guilty in the absence of a guilty verdict.
From Slate • Feb. 26, 2026
"The Turkish authorities are unfortunately continuing their efforts to further tarnish the country’s already grim record, where 27 journalists were imprisoned last year," RSF's Onderoglu said.
From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026
The allegations threatened to tarnish Sheffield’s reputation and isolated him within the industry.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026
Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of mithril did not tarnish or grow dim.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
