besmirch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "besmirch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of damaging someone's reputation or making something dirty or tarnished. Example: "The scandal served to besmirch the politician's once-stellar reputation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His informant, whom he describes as "a friend...in a position to have the information", is thought likely to be a Conservative political operator eager to besmirch Mr Martin and his government with biased reports of the hearings.However, Captain Ed is far from the only source reporting on the closed-door proceedings; he is simply the only one publishing the details.

The Economist

Most of it is still in a position to kill and besmirch things; but it is also subject to further evaporation and dispersal.Of the oil that dispersed, two-thirds did so naturally, a third did so as a result of the use of chemicals designed to aid the process.

The Economist

Women are still controlled by their menfolk, since perceived transgressions can besmirch a family's reputation.

The Economist

The Free Syrian Army, a group of rebel fighters, said that government forces, hoping to besmirch the opposition, were responsible.

The Economist

John Adams, who was trying to persuade the Dutch to recognise the fledging republic, worried that Washington's actions would besmirch its reputation.

The Economist

So why the drama, Obama?The suspicion is that Mr Obama wants to blunt Mr Netanyahu's criticism of an Iran deal, or to besmirch him as a racist, so as to stop wavering Democrats from joining the many who cheered Mr Netanyahu in Congress when he denounced the looming agreement as "a very bad deal .Mr Netanyahu is wrong to reject any plausible deal with Iran.

The Economist

The moral of this book, mercifully free of psychological analysis, is that the human appetite for saucy tales will never go away; and that even if Mr Clinton were pure as snow, some tittle-tattle would be found to besmirch him.

The Economist

In part, that was because the Republicans who were out to besmirch John Kerry were so good at it that they more than compensated for their relative penury.

The Economist

His British captors sought to besmirch further his name by circulating diaries in which he detailed homosexual encounters with young men on several continents.The strongest passages in the book are those in which the author skilfully interweaves scenes in Pentonville prison with details of Casement's earlier life to trace the evolution of Casement's consciousness.

The Economist

As anyone who Googles his surname will discover (don't let your children try), many gay Americans abhor him and will resort to any revolting prank to besmirch his name.They have reason.

The Economist

The movement seems designed both to weaken the president, who has called for the lifting of the ban on communism, and to besmirch the motives of those calling for faster and more radical democratic change.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "besmirch" when you want to convey a sense of deliberate damage to someone's reputation or to something valued. It is stronger than simply saying something is 'dirtied'.

Common error

Avoid using "besmirch" in contexts where the damage is unintentional or minor. "Besmirch" implies a significant and often intentional act of tarnishing or defaming.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "besmirch" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what or whom is being soiled or tarnished. As Ludwig AI confirms, this verb is correctly used in various contexts to describe the act of damaging a reputation or making something impure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "besmirch" is a transitive verb used to describe the act of damaging someone's reputation or making something dirty. Ludwig AI confirms it’s a grammatically correct and usable term, frequently found in news and media contexts. While "besmirch" is often associated with intentional harm, it's important to use it accurately, recognizing its formal tone and significant connotation of tarnishing or defaming. Alternatives like "tarnish" or "sully" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tarnish

This term focuses on diminishing the luster or reputation of something.

defame

This emphasizes the act of damaging someone's reputation with false statements.

sully

This suggests the act of staining or dirtying something, either physically or morally.

smear

This implies spreading damaging information to discredit someone.

denigrate

This means to criticize unfairly or disparage someone or something.

calumniate

This refers to making false and defamatory statements about someone.

asperse

This indicates the act of attacking someone's reputation or integrity.

blacken

This focuses on ruining someone's reputation.

smudge

This suggests marking something with dirt or discrediting a reputation slightly.

stain

This emphasizes leaving a lasting mark of disgrace on something.

FAQs

How to use "besmirch" in a sentence?

You can use "besmirch" to describe the act of damaging someone's reputation. For example, "The scandal served to besmirch the politician's once-stellar reputation."

What can I say instead of "besmirch"?

You can use alternatives like "tarnish", "defame", or "sully" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "besmirch" or "smirch"?

"Besmirch" and "smirch" are related, but "besmirch" typically refers to damaging someone's reputation, while "smirch" refers to making something dirty or stained. Choose the word that best fits the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "besmirch" and "denigrate"?

"Besmirch" implies a deliberate act of tarnishing, often through spreading rumors or false information. "Denigrate" involves unfairly criticizing or disparaging someone or something, often without necessarily intending to ruin their reputation completely.