adj

tarnished

TAHR-nihsht

Tarnished (adj) means discoloured or dulled, especially of metal. Example: “The tarnished brass handles needed a good clean.”

adj

Discoloured or dulled, especially of metal.

"The tarnished brass handles needed a good clean."

Damaged in reputation; dishonoured.

"He became a tarnished figure after the corruption allegations."

How to Use Tarnished

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDulled by exposure to air (metal) or damaged in standing/reputation (a person, brand, image).

Common pairings

tarnished reputation tarnished image

Word Forms

more tarnished comparative, most tarnished superlative

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The _____ brass handles needed a good clean.

Rhymes for tarnished

fished famished vanished polished punished finished banished cherished furnished published nourished anguished

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “tarnished” mean?

The word “tarnished” means discoloured or dulled, especially of metal. In plain terms, dulled by exposure to air (metal) or damaged in standing/reputation (a person, brand, image).

How do you pronounce “tarnished”?

“Tarnished” is pronounced TAHR-nihsht (/ˈtɑɹnɪʃt/ in IPA).

How do you use “tarnished” in a sentence?

Here is “tarnished” used in a sentence: “The tarnished brass handles needed a good clean.”

What part of speech is “tarnished”?

“Tarnished” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “tarnished” have?

“Tarnished” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: discoloured or dulled, especially of metal.