besmirch
Drag through mud
Besmirch means to damage someone's reputation or good name: The scandal besmirched his legacy.
The word carries a sense of soiling or staining something clean—honor, character, or memory.
It's somewhat formal and often appears in contexts involving public figures or institutions: She refused to besmirch her opponent's character.
Loss of honor
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- discreditHarm another's reputation
- humiliateCause painful shame
- degradeLower in standing
sully · tarnish · disrepute · ignominy · infamy · debase · abase · scandalize
Make impure
- defileTo violate sanctity
- polluteMake impure harmfully
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- soilGround matter for planting
dirty · foul · sully · adulterate · befoul · desecrate · profane · vitiate
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
disparage · traduce · malign · impugn · aspersion · defamation · vilification · backbite
Disgraceful public affair
- notorietyFame from misdeeds
- good nameFavorable public regard
- standingPosition, physical or social
- characterNature, symbol, or role
esteem · regard · honor · credibility · image · prestige · repute · status
disgrace
Loss of honor
degrade · sully · tarnish · disrepute · ignominy · infamy · debase · abase · scandalize · dishonor
taint
Make impure
soil · dirty · foul · sully · adulterate · befoul · desecrate · profane · vitiate · debase
slander
Spoken false defamation
denigrate · disparage · traduce · malign · impugn · aspersion · defamation · vilification · backbite · mudsling
scandal
Disgraceful public affair
character · esteem · regard · honor · credibility · image · prestige · repute · status · name
ridicule
Contemptuous mocking treatment
taunt · scoff · lampoon · sneer · belittle · demean · disparage · disdain · contempt · derision
denounce
Publicly declare wrongdoing
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- criticizeJudge unfavorably, vocally
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
reprimand · castigate · excoriate · pillory · decry · upbraid · chide · reproach · revile · lambaste