Word

maculate, v.
(maculated, maculates, maculating)

spot, stain, or pollute
<verb.change>

befoul defile foul maculate

sample sentences

"The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

befoulment

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

defiler defilement

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

maculation macula

semantic pointers

hypernym

dishonor, disgrace, dishonour, shame, attaint

make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
<verb.contact> freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1

defile maculate stain sully tarnish

sample sentences

"The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"
"Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man"