tarnish

4 synonyms and 2 antonyms for tarnish, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A dull discoloured film that forms on the surface of a metal, especially one exposed to air.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

stain

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

sully defile maculate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A dull discoloured film that forms on the surface of a metal, especially one exposed to air.

“She polished away the tarnish on the old silver spoons.”

stain sully defile maculate

2. verb

(of metal) To become dull or discoloured through exposure to air.

“Silver jewelry tarnishes quickly if left in a damp drawer.”

sully maculate defile stain

Opposites

furbish

3. verb

To damage or spoil someone's reputation or image.

“The scandal tarnished the senator's reputation for years.”

Opposites

glorify

How to use tarnish

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

tarnish a reputation start to tarnish tarnished silver

Etymology

From Old French ternir, meaning to make dim or dull, ultimately traced to a Germanic root meaning to conceal.

Full origin of tarnish →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tarnish” mean?

The word “tarnish” means a dull discoloured film that forms on the surface of a metal, especially one exposed to air. In plain terms, to lose shine (of metal) or to damage a reputation (of a person or brand).

How do you pronounce “tarnish”?

“Tarnish” is pronounced TAH-nihsh (/ˈtɑɹnɪʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “tarnish” in a sentence?

Here is “tarnish” used in a sentence: “She polished away the tarnish on the old silver spoons.”

What part of speech is “tarnish”?

Depending on how it is used, “tarnish” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “tarnish” come from?

The word “tarnish” comes from Old French. From Old French ternir, meaning to make dim or dull, ultimately traced to a Germanic root meaning to conceal.

How many meanings does “tarnish” have?

“Tarnish” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dull discoloured film that forms on the surface of a metal, especially one exposed to air.

People also searched

stain maculate furbish defile sully glorify

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of tarnish