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Besmirching: meaning, definitions and examples

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besmirching

 

[ bɪsˈmɜːrʧɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

reputation damage

To besmirch means to tarnish or damage someone’s reputation. This action often involves making false or misleading statements about a person or organization, leading to a loss of respect or credibility. The term suggests a deliberate attempt to stain or sully another's character or image. It is commonly used in contexts related to public figures, politics, and media, where reputations can be heavily influenced by public perception.

Synonyms

defame, discredit, sully, taint

Examples of usage

  • The scandal was meant to besmirch the politician's reputation.
  • He accused her of besmirching his honor with unfounded allegations.
  • The article besmirched the company's image in the eyes of its customers.

Translations

Translations of the word "besmirching" in other languages:

🇵🇹 difamação

🇮🇳 कलंक लगाना

🇩🇪 Beschmutzung

🇮🇩 memfitnah

🇺🇦 оббріхування

🇵🇱 oszczerstwo

🇯🇵 中傷する

🇫🇷 diffamation

🇪🇸 difamación

🇹🇷 karalama

🇰🇷 비방

🇸🇦 تشويه السمعة

🇨🇿 pomlouvání

🇸🇰 ohováranie

🇨🇳 诽谤

🇸🇮 oblatenje

🇮🇸 dómur

🇰🇿 жала жабу

🇬🇪 ბინძური

🇦🇿 qaralama

🇲🇽 difamación

Etymology

The word 'besmirch' originates from the Middle English term 'besmirchen', which combines 'be-' (a prefix meaning 'about' or 'completely') with 'smirch', derived from the Old English word 'smerċan' meaning 'to smear' or 'to darken'. The earliest uses of 'besmirch' described the act of making something dirty or stained, particularly referring to physical objects. Over time, the term evolved to take on a more figurative sense, referring to the tarnishing of someone's good name or reputation. This semantic shift mirrors the development of social and political discourse, where the reputations of individuals—especially those in public office—could be easily sullied through rumors, gossip, or misinformation. In contemporary usage, 'besmirch' retains its emphasis on the notion of damaging reputations, often in a context of slander or defamation.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,878, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.