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View synonyms for sully

sully

1

[ suhl-ee ]

verb (used with object)

, sul·lied, sul·ly·ing.
  1. to soil, stain, or tarnish.

    Synonyms: contaminate, blemish, taint

  2. to mar the purity or luster of; defile:

    to sully a reputation.

    Synonyms: dishonor, disgrace, dirty



verb (used without object)

, sul·lied, sul·ly·ing.
  1. to become sullied, soiled, or tarnished.

noun

, plural sul·lies.
  1. Obsolete. a stain; soil.

Sully

2

[ suhl-ee; French sy-lee ]

noun

  1. Ma·xi·mi·lien de Bé·thune [m, a, k-see-mee-, lyan, d, uh, bey-, tyn], Duc de, 1560–1641, French statesman.
  2. Thomas, 1783–1872, U.S. painter, born in England.

Sully

1

/ sylli; ˈsʌlɪ /

noun

  1. SullyMaximilien de Béthune, Duc de15591641MFrenchPOLITICS: statesman Maximilien de Béthune (maksimiljɛ̃ də betyn), Duc de Sully. 1559–1641, French statesman; minister of Henry IV. He helped restore the finances of France after the Wars of Religion
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sully

2

/ ˈsʌlɪ /

verb

  1. to stain or tarnish (a reputation, etc) or (of a reputation) to become stained or tarnished
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a stain
  2. the act of sullying
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈsulliable, adjective
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Other Words From

  • sul·li·a·ble adjective
  • un·sul·li·a·ble adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sully1

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sully1

C16: probably from French souiller to soil
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Example Sentences

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.

There is no doubt that the crackdown has sullied the image of the president.

From BBC

It threatened to sully her white dress flecked with rainbows.

Major spoiler alert: for those who don't want their viewing experience sullied, please stop reading now.

From Salon

He feels waiting any longer would just sully his father’s name.

From BBC

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Sullom VoeSully-Prudhomme