to further tarnish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to further tarnish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions that will exacerbate or worsen a negative situation or reputation. Example: "The scandal was enough to further tarnish the company's already damaged image."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Or to further tarnish their image abroad, they say.

The Guardian - Opinion

It appears to be part of a deeper critical look at Mr. Bo's reign in Chongqing and could be used to further tarnish his reputation.

The New York Times

The results are likely to further tarnish the reputation of niacin, a drug that is often prescribed to raise the levels of good cholesterol in patients at risk for heart disease but that was found not to prevent heart attacks in a government study last year.

The New York Times

In the previous episode, Section D discover that Nightingale is manipulating Hindus and Muslims to attack each other in an attempt to further tarnish relations between India and Pakistan; Section D is able to prevent the attacks in the UK, but it is later revealed that Nightingale succeeded in setting up similar attacks throughout the rest of Europe and the United States.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Sounding like a crusading district attorney, Gossage said any players who had used performance enhancers "need to come clean and put an end to this" to avoid further tarnishing the sport.

The New York Times - Sports

The mere fact that I had to get my machine fixed was a letdown, and the interaction with the famous Maytag repairman had to be top-notch to prevent further tarnishing of the brand.

Forbes

Black women who have been raped by black men are sometimes silenced, either in order to maintain their own hard-won image as "respectable" or to avoid further tarnishing the public image of black manhood.

SEP

By supporting the Saudi effort, they say, President Barack Obama risks empowering al Qaeda and implicating the U.S. and its allies in war crimes -- not to mention further tarnishing America's already damaged image in the Middle East.

Huffington Post

Many worried about the possibility of further tarnish to the city's image.

The New York Times

"At a time when the country -- including Texas -- is opening its eyes to the problems that plague capital punishment," Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA said, "Governor Perry has chosen to remain blind to its flaws, further tarnishing Texas' human rights reputation".

Huffington Post

Today, Payton and Kidd, good friends and two of the most commercially identifiable N.B.A. players, are embroiled in controversies that threaten to taint their images and further tarnish the game's.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to further tarnish", ensure the subject already has a negative reputation or image. It implies an existing flaw that's being worsened.

Common error

Avoid using "to further tarnish" when the subject doesn't already have a negative connotation. The phrase implies an existing damage to a reputation, so applying it to a neutral subject makes the phrase nonsensical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to further tarnish" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose, specifically to intensify the negative impact on something's reputation. The examples from Ludwig show its use in describing actions that worsen existing negative perceptions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

25%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to further tarnish" effectively conveys the idea of intensifying damage to a reputation or image. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. It is most commonly found in News & Media contexts, indicating its utility in reporting and analysis. While the phrase is not extremely common, its clear meaning and availability of suitable alternatives make it a valuable tool for expressing nuanced negative impacts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to additionally damage

Replaces "further tarnish" with a more direct term for causing harm.

to exacerbate the damage

Uses "exacerbate" to convey the idea of making the damage more severe.

to deepen the stain

Uses 'stain' metaphorically to suggest intensifying a mark on someone's reputation.

to further degrade

Similar to "tarnish" but implies a stronger level of damage.

to amplify the scandal

Focuses on magnifying the effect of a scandal.

to worsen the reputation

Focuses on the deterioration of reputation directly.

to intensify the disgrace

Highlights the increase in shame or dishonor.

to compound the negativity

Emphasizes the increasing accumulation of negative aspects.

to accelerate the decline

Suggests speeding up the process of something getting worse.

to add insult to injury

Idiomatic expression signifying adding further harm to an already bad situation.

FAQs

How can I use "to further tarnish" in a sentence?

You can use "to further tarnish" to describe actions that worsen an already damaged reputation. For example, "The scandal threatened to further tarnish the politician's image".

What can I say instead of "to further tarnish"?

You can use alternatives like "to additionally damage", "to worsen the reputation", or "to exacerbate the damage" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "to further tarnish" in formal writing?

Yes, it is appropriate to use "to further tarnish" in formal writing, especially in news reporting or academic analysis, as it clearly conveys the idea of a worsening reputation. Just ensure the tone fits the overall piece.

What's the difference between "to further tarnish" and "to damage"?

"To damage" simply means to cause harm or impairment. "To further tarnish" implies that something is already damaged, and the action in question is making it worse. "Tarnish" specifically refers to harm to reputation or image.