smirch

[ smurch ]

verb (used with object)

1. to discolor or soil; spot or smudge with or as with soot, dust, dirt, etc.

   Synonyms: dirty, smut, smear

   Antonyms: clean

2. to sully or tarnish (a person, reputation, character, etc.); disgrace; discredit.

   Synonyms: blot, taint

noun

1. a dirty mark or smear, as of soot, dust, dirt, etc.

   Synonyms: smutch, smut, smudge

2. a stain or blot, as on reputation.

   Synonyms: taint

smirch

/ smɜːtʃ /

verb

1. to dirty; soil

noun

1. the act of smirching or state of being smirched
2. a smear or stain

Derived Forms

• ˈsmircher, noun

Other Words From

• smirchless adjective
• un·smirched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of smirch¹

First recorded in 1485–95; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of smirch¹

C15 smorchen, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

There has also been plenty of creepy behavior, culminating in the news that Donald Trump, Ken Starr and Alan Dershowitz have joined together in a pervy, hypocritical cabal to argue that Trump did not smirch the Constitution.

From New York Times

"It's a smirch that never goes away.... If you dedicated yourself to serving the good, how would you cope with that?"

From Los Angeles Times

Dorothy had loved a coronet with such fervor that she had been able to abandon everything that could smirch it.

From Project Gutenberg

The filth of the streets could not smirch her—outwardly.

From Project Gutenberg

To smirch or soil; to disoolor; to obscure.

From Project Gutenberg