besmirch

Steele doesn’t besmirch the data that punishes his Redhawks, but he also says “there’s something to winning.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026

Mr Yusuf said he had never met Gill, and it was unreasonable to "besmirch" Reform UK, Nigel Farage and the party's millions of supporters.

From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2025

As it turns out, Murray’s story doesn’t besmirch Candy’s memory at all.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2025

Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the West of trying to besmirch his country.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 7, 2022

"Not bloody likely. The Long Summer will come again before that one would besmirch his precious honor."

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

"Behaviour like that, whether it's at an Old Firm match or any other football match, besmirches that, and it should absolutely be seen as unacceptable."

From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2022

The prevalence of this ugly fad usage besmirches the language with a jarring oddity, without purpose in clarity or elegance.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 20, 2021

Mud besmirches his van’s tiny, neat living space.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 6, 2018

It is unfortunate that this Times article indirectly besmirches the Yankees.

From New York Times ● Jul. 8, 2017

How is it, I wonder, that while the dear child generally speaks of 'ay and 'ouse, she invariably besmirches with the strongest of aspirates the unfortunate village of H'Orton?

From The Argosy Vol. 51, No. 4, April, 1891 by Charles W. Wood

“New banks didn’t even call themselves banks and instead used the expression caisses, meaning ‘deposits,’ so besmirched was the banking industry’s reputation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025

"What happened thereafter has besmirched the unsuspecting town of Kidwelly," he said.

From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2025

But our own humanity has been besmirched, damaged, undermined by such silences, which, in many ways, represent the most powerful propaganda of all.

From Salon ● May 31, 2023

Securities and Exchange Commission, had wrongly besmirched Hindenburg’s “well-deserved reputation for thoroughness, precision and accuracy.”

From Reuters ● Feb. 2, 2023

Was there any kind of filth with which he had not besmirched himself, any sin and folly which he had not committed, any stain upon his soul for which he alone had not been responsible?

From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse

Instead, “People getting ready to do things” is spelled out in egg yolk, besmirching the virginal purity of its white satin support; and “It’s only vanishing cream” is translucent shellac disappearing against deathly black.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2024

Yet having that knowledge somehow doesn't assuage the anxiety that strikes the moment I see a ring of oil-slicked curry from the pot lid besmirching my flawless countertop.

From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2023

The businesses declared themselves outraged by the government besmirching their reputation.

From BBC ● Jan. 18, 2023

So is the fact that he considered burying other ethically troubling allegations about nominees the decent thing to do—to avoid besmirching their characters.

From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2020

With my position placed upon my brow, like a crown on a king, freed at last from all the mean and besmirching tricks of acquiring social distinction, I could grow and expand.

From The Fifth Wheel A Novel by Olive Higgins Prouty