Sully

To sully means to damage the purity or integrity of something, especially someone's reputation or honor, through an act or statement considered offensive or harmful. It implies a staining or defilement, often metaphorical, impacting the previously untarnished state of the object or person. The act of sullying suggests a loss of esteem or a tarnishing of a positive image, leading to diminished respect or credibility. This can range from minor offenses to significant betrayals. The resulting condition is one of damage, making a person or thing appear flawed or tainted, eroding their worth in the eyes of others or damaging their image in some manner.

Sully meaning with examples

• The politician's scandal threatened to sully his otherwise spotless reputation, putting his career in jeopardy and eroding the trust of his constituents. His careful image crumbled.
• The company's environmental violations threatened to sully its brand image, leading to consumer boycotts and a significant drop in stock value. The controversy made them look bad.
• Accusations of plagiarism threatened to sully the young author's promising debut, raising serious questions about her originality and damaging her literary prospects. She was accused of a very grave offense.
• The use of racial slurs during the debate was intended to sully the opposing candidate's character and reputation, despite his otherwise impeccable record of public service. This attack was uncalled for.
• A breach of contract by the software development company and subsequent release of the product led to serious damage, likely to sully their reputation. The company's failure reflected poorly on them.