as in to stain
to make dirty
people that sully our state parks with their trash a once-gleaming marble interior sullied by decades of exposure to cigarette smoke
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of sully
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
Here, his white knight’s armor is sullied before his face is scarred, and how that fits this version of Gotham City makes for a fitting rallying cry all its own.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2024
Oh the incorruptible queen sullies herself with a lover.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sully 
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
Here, his white knight’s armor is sullied before his face is scarred, and how that fits this version of Gotham City makes for a fitting rallying cry all its own.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2024
Oh the incorruptible queen sullies herself with a lover.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sully
Verb
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Make Glass Shower Doors Sparkle The entire aesthetic of your bathroom can take a big hit the moment your glass shower door begins to look streaky, stained, or foggy.—
Katelyn Squiers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Jan. 2025
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As Shilpa notes though, the plastic has a tendency to stain, especially when slicing carrots or beets.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appétit,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The charred footprint of the Eaton fire, which blackened more than 14,000 acres, is the most worrisome.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2025
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In one corner, fires from ancient rituals had left the limestone ceiling blackened by soot.—
Gina DeCaprio Vercesi,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Instead of dirtying a larger pot for your supporting dishes, this quaint cooker will come in handy for quick (or slower simmering) concoctions while matching your kitchen atmosphere.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2025
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Having dirtied himself in the catacombs beneath the papacy’s home, our scrappy archaeologist emerges into none other than a resplendent re-creation of the Sistine Chapel.—
Lewis Gordon,
Vulture,
18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Images illustrating the reality versus carefully edited Instagram selfies have somewhat besmirched Santorini’s romantic reputation of late.—
Helen Iatrou,
AFAR Media,
16 Dec. 2024
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There’s a new promo picture going around showing a Dusty Milligan with facial hair (see: above) — and listen, not to besmirch his infinity-pool jawline, but the dude looks so much better with that scruff.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
8 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Capitalism is degrading us, killing us and befouling our world.—
Philip Kennicott,
Washington Post,
8 June 2023
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At a 2019 commencement address, Mr. Adams told a story about intimidating a neighbor whose dog was befouling his yard.—
Emma G. Fitzsimmons,
New York Times,
1 June 2023
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Cite this Entry
“Sully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sully. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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