sully
15 synonyms and 4 antonyms for sully, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To damage or spoil someone's reputation or something's purity.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use sully
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sully a reputation
sully someone's name
Etymology
From Old English sylian, "to soil or defile," related to German sühlen and Swedish söla, both meaning "to sully."
Full origin of sully →Frequently asked questions
What does “sully” mean?
The word “sully” means to damage or spoil someone's reputation or something's purity. In plain terms, to tarnish or damage something's good name or purity.
How do you pronounce “sully”?
“Sully” is pronounced SUH-lee (/ˈsʌli/ in IPA).
How do you use “sully” in a sentence?
Here is “sully” used in a sentence: “One bad review shouldn't sully an otherwise excellent record.”
What part of speech is “sully”?
“Sully” is a verb.
Where does the word “sully” come from?
The word “sully” comes from Old English. From Old English sylian, "to soil or defile," related to German sühlen and Swedish söla, both meaning "to sully.".
