MEANING
1. To dull or discolor a metal surface.
2. To damage a reputation, memory, or valued image.
Use it for
Dulled heirlooms, damaged family reputation, appearances losing luster.Connect material loss of shine with moral damage only where the parallel is earned.
Words that belong together
- tarnish silver
- tarnish a reputation
- tarnish the memory of
On the page
The silver had tarnished in the damp cupboard.
The trial tarnished a family reputation built over generations.
No accusation could tarnish her memory of the old gardener.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- tarnish / tarnishes
- Past tense
- tarnished
- Past participle
- tarnished
- Present participle
- tarnishing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- tarnish / tarnishes
- Present continuous
- am/is/are tarnishing
- Present perfect
- have/has tarnished
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been tarnishing
- Past
- tarnished
- Past continuous
- was/were tarnishing
- Past perfect
- had tarnished
- Past perfect continuous
- had been tarnishing
- Future
- will tarnish / tarnishes
- Future continuous
- will be tarnishing
- Future perfect
- will have tarnished
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been tarnishing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: gothic. Literal effects depend on the metal and chemistry; not identical to rust. Figurative sense means damage, not necessarily destroy. Verb: tarnish, tarnishes, tarnished, tarnished, tarnishing. Also a noun for discoloration.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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