sully

To soil or stain; to dirty.

“He did not wish to sully his hands with gardening.”

To corrupt or damage.

“She tried to sully her rival’s reputation with a suggestive comment.”

To become soiled or tarnished.

Place under suspicion or cast doubt upon

“sully someone's reputation”

Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically

“The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air”

“Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man”

Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

“The journalists have defamed me!”

“The article in the paper sullied my reputation”

rareobsoleteA blemish.