blemish
verb (used with object)
to destroy or diminish the perfection of.
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 1988, when Kennedy family members thought that a biographer researching the life of John Kennedy was blemishing their image in lectures he was giving, Mr. Gwirtzman delivered the message to the author, Nigel Hamilton.
From New York Times ● Jul. 26, 2011