sully

Noun

• French statesman (1560-1641)

• United States painter (born in England) of portraits and historical scenes (1783-1872)

Verb

• charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
  • The journalists have defamed me! The article in the paper sullied my reputation
    

• make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
  • The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air
    
  • Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man
    

• place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
  • sully someone's reputation
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  Sully , Duc de Sully , Maxmilien de Bethune , Thomas Sully , defame , slander , smirch , asperse , denigrate , calumniate , smear , besmirch , tarnish , stain , maculate , defile , corrupt , taint , cloud