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Definition
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Synonyms
Examples of sully in a Sentence
Verb
people that sully our state parks with their trash
a once-gleaming marble interior sullied by decades of exposure to cigarette smoke
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Not even a string of disappointing sequels, two bad movies, and odd franchise pivots by Konami has sullied its renown.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
The incident — which revived memories of a massive 3-million-gallon spill almost 50 years earlier — sullied some of the state’s most pristine beaches and a rare stretch of undeveloped coastline.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
An equally nasty battle with Taylor Swift, over his ownership of her song catalogue, had sullied his public image.
—Alex Barasch, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Nothing in life is ever just better or worse, purer or more sullied.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sully
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English *sullien, probably alteration (influenced by Anglo-French suillier, soiller to soil) of sulen to soil, from Old English sylian
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1601, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of sully was
in the 15th century
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Cite this Entry
“Sully.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sully. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
sully
verb
sul·ly
ˈsəl-ē
sullied; sullying
: to make soiled or tarnished
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