Meaning & use
sully
Last updated
To damage or spoil the purity, cleanliness, or reputation of something.
See it in a sentence
The bribery scandal sullied the reputation of the entire organization.
He refused to let a single mistake sully his years of good work.
A note on using this word
Sully is typically used figuratively, especially alongside words like 'reputation,' 'name,' or 'honor.'
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
cleansepurify
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