sullying 1 of 2

noun

as in contamination

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sullying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sully
as in staining
to make dirty people that sully our state parks with their trash a once-gleaming marble interior sullied by decades of exposure to cigarette smoke

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sullying
Verb
The Spurs were a ghastly 11 of 46 from the perimeter, sullying an otherwise analytically pristine shot chart that included only four non-paint 2s. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 5 June 2026 And could a second season, sans the extraordinary talents of Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, deliver a story and themes in keeping with that brand, without sullying what was so deviously tricky about the original series and its tone? — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 Social media was full of people accusing Canada of sullying the great sport and sportsmanship of curling. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026 The problem is, people were drinking a lot of bad ones, sullying their opinion of the drink. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2026 The scale of the fraud in Minnesota dwarfs the roughly $100 million welfare scandal that rocked Mississippi from 2016 to 2019, embroiling former NFL quarterback Brett Favre in a civil lawsuit and sullying the state’s reputation for oversight. — The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026 Part of the art of airing dirty laundry lies in sullying oneself in the process. — Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullying
  1. contamination
  2. staining
  3. tarnishing
  4. blackening
  5. pollution
  6. dirtying
  7. besmirching
  8. soiling
Noun
  • Douglas claims the company failed to use safe food storage, handling and preparation practices, failed to inspect food and kitchen conditions for contamination and failed to eliminate harmful bacteria before serving the meal.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Keep water in shatterproof containers with airtight lids to prevent contamination.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of contamination
Verb
  • Foods like tomato sauce and chocolate can cause staining if they aren’t wiped up right away.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Her hobbies include quilting, gardening and refurbishing furniture with Bill, with Hiers often adding the finishing touches by staining and painting their projects.
    — Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of staining
Noun
  • It’s made of 10K gold, so any tarnishing that happens down the line can likely be cleaned or polished away.
    — Olivia Dubyak, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Make sure to hand-wash any copper items or other precious metals to keep their shine and luster intact and avoid discoloration or tarnishing.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Definition of tarnishing
Verb
  • Check monthly for signs of shriveling (add moisture), blackening or softening (discard).
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
  • The Volcano fire was among blazes this week, blackening more than 100 acres in Riverside County.
    — Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of blackening
Noun
  • Projects would also face limits on air pollution and requirements related to clean backup power, green building standards and worker protections.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Stickney Village Board passed a six-month moratorium on data centers, since concerns have been raised over their energy and water usage, and noise and air pollution.
    — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of pollution
Verb
  • Satisfy your lasagna craving without dirtying up a pile of dishes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
  • Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.
    — Adam Roy, Outside, 28 Dec. 2025
Definition of dirtying
Verb
  • Troubled by all the people besmirching the occupation, a group of agents formed a national trade group in 1908—the one eventually known as NAR.
    — Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026
  • In her response, Hajdini cast Rana as manipulative and deceitful, intent on ruining her life and besmirching her employer through his sensational accusations.
    — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Definition of besmirching
Verb
  • Brazzale says patients who are declining may worry about soiling themselves, losing their dignity, or being moved out of their home at the end.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 5 Aug. 2026
  • People are reportedly soiling themselves at Noah Kahan‘s concerts.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026
Definition of soiling

Browse Nearby Words

sully
sullying
sultan
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Cite this Entry

“Sullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullying. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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