tarnish

1 of 2

verb

tar·​nish ˈtär-nish How to pronounce tarnish (audio)
tarnished; tarnishing; tarnishes
Synonyms of tarnish

transitive verb

1
: to dull or destroy the luster of by or as if by air, dust, or dirt : soil, stain
2
a
: to detract from the good quality of : vitiate
his fine dreams now slightly tarnished
b
: to bring disgrace on : sully
the scandal has tarnished his reputation

intransitive verb

: to become tarnished
tarnishable
ˈtär-ni-shə-bəl How to pronounce tarnish (audio)
adjective

tarnish

2 of 2

noun

: something that tarnishes
especially : a film of chemically altered material on the surface of a metal (such as silver)

Synonyms of tarnish

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Verb

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Examples of tarnish in a Sentence

Verb Some foods will tarnish silver. The scandal tarnished his reputation. Noun a polish that removes tarnish
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
In June, Marius Borg Høiby, 29, was sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of rape and domestic violence after a seven-week trial that further tarnished the family’s reputation. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 The Iran-contra scandal in the mid-1980s badly tarnished Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy record. — Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
Her legacy is in cement, above and beyond tarnish. — Miami Herald, 2 June 2026 There, the aluminum is meant to react with hot water and detergent to transfer any tarnish found on the silverware to the aluminum foil. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tarnish

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English ternysshen, from Middle French terniss-, stem of ternir, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German tarnan to hide

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tarnish was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing tarnish

Rhymes for tarnish

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Browse Nearby Words

tarnation
tarnish
tarnishable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarnish. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tarnish

1 of 2 verb
tar·​nish ˈtär-nish How to pronounce tarnish (audio)
1
: to make or become dull, dim, or discolored
silver tarnishes
2
: to bring disgrace or cast doubt on
tarnished the family's good name

tarnish

2 of 2 noun
: something that tarnishes
especially : a film of chemically changed material on the surface of a metal (as silver)

More from Merriam-Webster on tarnish

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tarnish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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