besmirch

From be- +‎ smirch.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /bɪˈsmɜːtʃ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /bɪˈsmɝːtʃ/

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• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)tʃ

besmirch (third-person singular simple present besmirches, present participle besmirching, simple past and past participle besmirched)

1. (transitive, literary) To make dirty; to soil.
2. (transitive) To tarnish something, especially someone's reputation; to debase.

   The newspaper was on a campaign to besmirch the actor.

• besmirchment

• Schembri