verb
- to damage or spoil something pure or good, especially someone’s reputation
Usage: formal
Examples
- The scandal threatened to sully his reputation.
- She refused to let gossip sully her good name.
- The company’s image was sullied by the corruption charges.
- Don’t let one mistake sully your entire career.
- The politician’s past actions continue to sully his credibility.
- They worked hard to avoid sullying the family honor.