tarnish Definition
- 1lose or cause to lose luster, especially as a result of exposure to air or moisture
- 2damage or harm the good quality or reputation of something
Using tarnish: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tarnish" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The silver had tarnished and needed cleaning.
Example
The scandal tarnished his reputation.
Example
The company's image was tarnished by the product recall.
tarnish Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with tarnish
tarnish one's reputation
to damage or harm the good quality or reputation of someone or something
Example
The politician's scandal tarnished his reputation.
tarnish-resistant
not easily losing luster or becoming discolored
Example
The jewelry was made with tarnish-resistant materials.
Example
She used a tarnish remover to clean the silverware.
Origins of tarnish
from Old French 'tarniss-', stem of 'tarnir', meaning 'to dull the luster of'
Summary: tarnish in Brief
The verb 'tarnish' [ˈtɑːnɪʃ] refers to losing luster due to exposure to air or moisture, or damaging the good quality or reputation of something. It is often used in the context of metals, as in 'The silver had tarnished and needed cleaning,' but can also refer to reputations, as in 'The scandal tarnished his reputation.' 'Tarnish' can be used in phrases like 'tarnish-resistant' and 'tarnish remover.'
