: something that tarnishes
especially
: a film of chemically altered material on the surface of a metal (such as silver)
Synonyms
Examples of tarnish in a Sentence
Verb
Some foods will tarnish silver.
The scandal tarnished his reputation.
Noun
a polish that removes tarnish
Recent Examples on the Web
Bloomberg News, TIME, 14 Aug. 2024
What was praised as one of the best-ever Olympic Games has been tarnished by confusion, heartbreak and allegations of incompetence leveled against the governing bodies involved.
—Don Riddell, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024
Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 13 July 2024
Apply the paste to the copper surface and scrub away the tarnish with a cloth or scrubbing sponge.
—Jan Soults Walker, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for tarnish 
Verb
Yet the fact he is seen as an outsider could prompt the party to turn to him to refurbish its image, which was tarnished by a political fund-raising scandal.
—Bloomberg News, TIME, 14 Aug. 2024
What was praised as one of the best-ever Olympic Games has been tarnished by confusion, heartbreak and allegations of incompetence leveled against the governing bodies involved.
—Don Riddell, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024
Noun
Soak the silver pieces for 1 to 3 minutes, or until the tarnish disappears, and then carefully remove each silver item.
—Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 13 July 2024
Apply the paste to the copper surface and scrub away the tarnish with a cloth or scrubbing sponge.
—Jan Soults Walker, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for tarnish
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tarnish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tarnish
Cite this Entry
“Tarnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarnish. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tarnish
1 of 2 verb
tar·nish
ˈtär-nish 
1
: to make or become dull, dim, or discolored
silver tarnishes
2
: to bring disgrace or cast doubt on
tarnished the family's good name
tarnish
2 of 2 noun
: something that tarnishes
especially
: a film of chemically changed material on the surface of a metal (as silver)
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