besmirching

verb

present participle of besmirch
as in staining
to make dirty inconsiderately besmirched the carpet with their dirty feet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of besmirching Troubled by all the people besmirching the occupation, a group of agents formed a national trade group in 1908—the one eventually known as NAR. — Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026 In her response, Hajdini cast Rana as manipulative and deceitful, intent on ruining her life and besmirching her employer through his sensational accusations. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026 Kelly believes a book like this hasn’t been written before because people weren’t ready to hear the truth – as though acknowledging these famous people’s complete life experiences would be besmirching their legacies. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2026 Famously, the British press conspired to draw the dramatist’s name through the mud, besmirching his literary legacy for generations to follow. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besmirching
  1. staining
  2. blackening
  3. dirtying
  4. sullying
  5. messing
  6. soiling
  7. mucking
Verb
  • Foods like tomato sauce and chocolate can cause staining if they aren’t wiped up right away.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Her hobbies include quilting, gardening and refurbishing furniture with Bill, with Hiers often adding the finishing touches by staining and painting their projects.
    — Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of staining
Verb
  • Morawetz also points to baking and air-frying as favorite preparation methods, noting that charring or blackening from direct high-heat grilling can be linked to health risks.
    — Embry Roberts, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Check monthly for signs of shriveling (add moisture), blackening or softening (discard).
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Definition of blackening
Verb
  • Satisfy your lasagna craving without dirtying up a pile of dishes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
  • Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.
    — Adam Roy, Outside, 28 Dec. 2025
Definition of dirtying
Verb
  • The two cars Bentley brought to Laguna Seca are the only two that have been built so far, and sullying either with a trip through the gravel or, worse yet, into a tire barrier, was definitely not on the agenda.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Spurs were a ghastly 11 of 46 from the perimeter, sullying an otherwise analytically pristine shot chart that included only four non-paint 2s.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Definition of sullying
Verb
  • There was something a little therapeutic about messing it up.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 June 2026
  • No one can match her depth and passion to get vengeance on Krem of the Yellow Hills for messing with her family — a sentiment Cancers understand.
    — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of messing
Verb
  • Brazzale says patients who are declining may worry about soiling themselves, losing their dignity, or being moved out of their home at the end.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 5 Aug. 2026
  • People are reportedly soiling themselves at Noah Kahan‘s concerts.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026
Definition of soiling
Verb
  • He's been mucking about with them for going on 60 years, and decided to enter the contest for the first time in 2025.
    — Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But Ehlers has given Carolina a newfound level of offensive depth, especially given he’s meshed surprisingly well with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook, two veteran checkers who have been mucking and grinding for years on a team that does that better than anyone.
    — James Mirtle, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Definition of mucking

Browse Nearby Words

besmirches
besmirching
besotted
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Cite this Entry

“Besmirching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besmirching. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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