verb
sully
SUH-lee
Sully (verb) means to damage or spoil someone's reputation or something's purity. Example: “The scandal sullied the mayor's reputation for years.”
verb
1
To damage or spoil someone's reputation or something's purity.
"The scandal sullied the mayor's reputation for years."
"One bad review shouldn't sully an otherwise excellent record."
How to use sully
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo tarnish or damage something's good name or purity.
Common pairings
sully a reputation
sully someone's name
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Word forms
- Plural
- sullies
- Third person singular
- sullies
- Past tense
- sullied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
One bad review shouldn't _____ an otherwise excellent record.
Etymology
From Old English sylian, "to soil or defile," related to German sühlen and Swedish söla, both meaning "to sully."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sully
See all rhymes for 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.".
