to soil, stain, or tarnish.

to mar the purity or luster of; defile

to sully a reputation.

to become sullied, soiled, or tarnished.

Obsolete . a stain; soil.

verb

besmirch , blacken , blot , contaminate , corrupt , debase , debauch , defile , dirty , discolor , disgrace , dishonor , drag through the mud , make unclean , mark , smear , smudge , spot , taint , tar , tarnish , befoul , begrime , besoil , black , smutch , soil , besmear , bespatter , cloud , denigrate , smut , spatter , stain , mar , pollute