· place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's reputation"

Synonym(s): sully, corrupt, taint, cloud

Hypernym(s): mar, impair, spoil, deflower, vitiate

· make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically; "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man"

Synonym(s): tarnish, stain, maculate, sully

Hypernym(s): spot, fleck, blob, blot

· spot, stain, or pollute; "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it"

Synonym(s): foul, befoul, maculate

Hypernym(s): dishonor, disgrace, dishonour, attaint, shame

· morally blemished; stained or impure

Synonym(s): maculate