damage the purity or integrity of; defile, to tarnish or besmirch someone's reputation or good name

sully one's name, sully one's hands, sully the waters

Formal and Informal Expressions of sully

In different contexts, you can replace 'sully' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'defile, tarnish' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'dirty, smudge' is a commonplace synonym.

sully: Explore its Definition & Usage

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

Synonyms for sully

Antonyms for sully

Phrases with sully

sully one's name
to damage someone's reputation or good name
Example
He was accused of embezzlement, which sullied his name in the industry.
sully one's hands
to involve oneself in something unpleasant or morally questionable
Example
I don't want to sully my hands with this dirty business.
sully the waters
to make a situation more confusing or less clear
Example
The conflicting reports sullied the waters of the investigation.

Origins of sully

from Old French 'soillier', meaning 'to soil'

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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.'