sully

¹

[ suhl-ee ]

verb (used with object)

sullied, sullying.

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)

sullied, sullying.

1. to become sullied, soiled, or tarnished.

noun

plural sullies.

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

sully

²

/ ˈsʌlɪ /

verb

1. to stain or tarnish (a reputation, etc) or (of a reputation) to become stained or tarnished

noun

1. a stain
2. the act of sullying

Derived Forms

• ˈsulliable, adjective

Other Word Forms

• sul·li·a·ble adjective
• un·sul·li·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sully¹

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of sully¹

C16: probably from French souiller to soil

Example Sentences

There are countertop devices that promise to scramble your egg inside the shell, so you never have to sully a whisk again.

From Salon

"Investors heard more explicit details regarding the Trump tariff agenda, which sullied the market mood somewhat."

From BBC

Never mind that Trump would never sully himself by entering a grocery store.

From Salon

Introducing a two-tier system to the World Test Championship would be "greedy" and would "sully the game", says former England fast bowler Steven Finn.

From BBC

This pattern of presidents sullying the office as they leave it with clemency for the connected should end, even if the pardon power lives on.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• besmirch
• blacken
• corrupt
• debase
• defile
• discolor
• disgrace
• dishonor
• smear
• smudge
• taint
• tar
• tarnish