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   tarnish

   /ˈtɑːnɪʃ/

   verb

   • 1. lose or cause to lose lustre, especially as a result of exposure to air or moisture: "silver tarnishes too easily" Similar become discoloureddiscolourstainrustoxidizecorrodedeterioratebecome dulllose its shinelose its lustreblackenbecome blackdullmake dulldimblackenmake blackdiscolourstainrustoxidizecorrodeOpposite brightenpolishbrightenpolish
   • ▪ make or become less valuable or respected: "his regime had not been tarnished by human rights abuses" Similar sullybesmirchblackensmirchstainblemishblottaintsoilbefoulspoilruindirtydisgracemardamagedefamecalumniateinjureharmhurtunderminedebasedegradedenigratedishonourstigmatizevitiatedrag through the mudOpposite enhance

   noun

   • 1. dullness of colour; loss of brightness.
   • ▪ a film or stain formed on an exposed surface of a mineral or metal: "he was removing tarnish from the candlesticks" Similar discolorationoxidationrusttarnishingblackeningfilmpatina
   • ▪ damage or harm done to something: "the tarnish on Alan's personal reputation" Similar smearblack markslurstainblemishblottaintstigmasmirchflaw

   Word Origin late Middle English (as a verb): from French terniss-, lengthened stem of ternir, from terne ‘dark, dull’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. tarnishable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • T

     1

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • N

     1

   • I

     1

   • S

     1

   • H

     4

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