besmirch
/bi'smə:tʃ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
The journalist attempted to besmirch the mayor's reputation with false claims.
Definition
- Verb:
- To make dirty or stained; to soil or discolor: To physically dirty something, often by smearing or staining it.
- To damage the reputation of someone or something; to defame: To attack the good name or honor of a person or thing, often with false or malicious statements.
Usage
- The primary use of "besmirch" is to describe the act of tarnishing, either literally (physically) or figuratively (reputationally). It is a formal word often used in serious contexts involving accusations, honor, or integrity.
- It is a transitive verb and requires a direct object (e.g., besmirch a reputation, besmirch a name, besmirch a surface).
Examples
- Literal (Physical):
- The mud from the road besmirched her white dress.
- He accidentally besmirched the document with ink.
- Figurative (Reputational):
- The politician claimed the newspaper article was an attempt to besmirch his character.
- She would not allow anyone to besmirch her family's good name.
Advanced Usage
- "to besmirch someone's honor/reputation/good name": A common collocation emphasizing the damage to a person's social standing.
- The false accusations were designed solely to besmirch his honor.
- Often used in legal, journalistic, or formal polemical contexts concerning slander or libel.
Variants and Related Words
- Besmirched (adj.): Describing something that has been dirtied or had its reputation damaged.
- He fought to clear his besmirched reputation.
- Unbesmirched (adj.): Not tarnished; remaining pure or honorable. (Less common)
- She emerged from the scandal with her record unbesmirched.
Synonyms
- Sully: To tarnish or defile. (Very close synonym, used in both literal and figurative senses)
- Defame: To damage the good reputation of someone; slander or libel.
- Tarnish: To dull the luster of (a metallic surface) or to detract from (a reputation).
- Stain: To mark or discolor, or to bring disgrace upon.
- Smear: To spread a substance, or to make damaging allegations.
Antonyms
- Purify: To make clean.
- Honor: To regard with great respect.
- Praise: To express warm approval or admiration.
- Cleanse: To make thoroughly clean.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "Besmirch the record": To cast doubt on or taint a previously clean history of achievement.
- The defense attorney tried to besmirch the witness's record to create doubt.
- While not a phrasal verb, "besmirch" is frequently found in the construction "seek to besmirch," indicating a deliberate attempt to damage a reputation.
- His opponents sought to besmirch his achievements.
The journalist attempted to besmirch the mayor's reputation with false claims.
Verb
- smear so as to make dirty or stained
- charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
- The journalists have defamed me! The article in the paper sullied my reputation