sully Definition
- 1damage the purity or integrity of; defile
- 2to tarnish or besmirch someone's reputation or good name
Using sully: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "sully" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The scandal sullied his reputation.
Example
He didn't want to sully his hands with the dirty work.
Example
The graffiti sullied the pristine walls of the building.
sully Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with sully
Example
He was accused of embezzlement, which sullied his name in the industry.
Example
I don't want to sully my hands with this dirty business.
Example
The conflicting reports sullied the waters of the investigation.
Origins of sully
from Old French 'soillier', meaning 'to soil'
Summary: sully in Brief
The verb 'sully' [ˈsʌli] means to damage the purity or integrity of something or someone, especially by tarnishing their reputation. It can be used in phrases like 'sully one's name' and 'sully one's hands.' Synonyms include 'taint,' 'stain,' and 'pollute.'