: something that tarnishes
especially
: a film of chemically altered material on the surface of a metal (such as silver)
Synonyms
Examples of tarnish in a Sentence
Verb
Some foods will tarnish silver.
The scandal tarnished his reputation.
Noun
a polish that removes tarnish
Recent Examples on the Web
Kate Gibson, CBS News, 7 May 2024
Fans may believe that uncovering the racist roots of the Churchill family tree will tarnish the image of the event and diminish its delight.
—TIME, 4 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tarnish 
Verb
Meanwhile, headlines about Starbucks employees not being allowed to wear Black Lives Matter attire tarnished the brand for Morgan Bissett-Tessier, a 31-year-old law school student and part-time school administrator in New York.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 7 May 2024
Fans may believe that uncovering the racist roots of the Churchill family tree will tarnish the image of the event and diminish its delight.
—TIME, 4 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tarnish
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tarnish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tarnish
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarnish. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tarnish
1 of 2 verb
tar·nish
ˈtär-nish 
1
: to make or become dull, dim, or discolored
silver tarnishes
2
: to bring disgrace or cast doubt on
tarnished the family's good name
tarnish
2 of 2 noun
: something that tarnishes
especially
: a film of chemically changed material on the surface of a metal (as silver)
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