Word

sully, v.
(sullied, sullies, sullying)

charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
<verb.communication> freq. cnt.: 3 freq. cnt.: 2 freq. cnt.: 1

asperse besmirch calumniate defame denigrate slander smear smirch sully

sample sentences

"The journalists have defamed me!"
"The article in the paper sullied my reputation"

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

calumny calumny

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

defamatory defamation defamation defamer

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

slander slander slanderer

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

aspersion aspersion

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

denigratory denigration

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

semantic pointers

hypernym

hyponym

assassinate libel drag through the mud, badmouth, malign, traduce

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"

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

maculation macula

semantic pointers

hypernym

spot, fleck, blob, blot

hyponym

place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
<verb.contact>

cloud corrupt defile sully taint

sample sentences

"sully someone's reputation"

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

verb frames

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

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

semantic pointers

hypernym

mar, impair, spoil, deflower, vitiate