besmirch
To make dirtyTo make dirty.
» That news will besmirch his reputation for honesty.
Die Nachricht wird sein Ansehen als ehrlicher Mensch beschädigen.
Meaning
2 senses(literary, transitive)To make dirty.
beschmutzen, beschmieren
па́чкатьpáčkatʹ, испа́чкатьispáčkatʹ, загрязня́тьzagrjaznjátʹ
бруднитиbrudnyty, замазуватиzamazuvaty
smear so as to make dirty or stained
(transitive)To tarnish something, especially someone's reputation.
The newspaper was on a campaign to besmirch the actor.
beschmutzen, besudeln, in Verruf bringen
пятна́тьpjatnátʹ, запятна́тьzapjatnátʹ, черни́тьčernítʹ
чорни́тиčornýty, ганьби́тиhanʹbýty, плямува́тиpljamuváty
Examples
4 sentencesThat news will besmirch his reputation for honesty.
deDie Nachricht wird sein Ansehen als ehrlicher Mensch beschädigen.
You'll never be able to besmirch my name.
The scandal threatened to besmirch the company's image.
Please don't do anything that would besmirch the Matsuno family name!
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English besmorchen (attested in besmorchid). Compare Middle English bismoteredFrom Middle English besmorchen (attested in besmorchid). Compare Middle English bismotered (“bespattered, soiled”). By surface analysis, be- + smirch.
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Forms
besmirches, besmirching, besmirched, besmirched| Base form | besmirch · to besmirch |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | besmirches |
| Present participle | besmirching |
| Past simple | besmirched |
| Past participle | besmirched |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
104 synonymsAntonyms
1 antonymsWord family
4 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle