besmirched

Dragged through mud

Besmirched means stained or tarnished, usually referring to reputation or honor rather than physical surfaces.

To besmirch someone's name is to damage it through accusation or association with wrongdoing: His reputation was besmirched by the scandal.

The word carries a literary or formal tone, suggesting dishonor that clings like dirt.

defamed

slander

Spoken false defamation

libelPrinted defamation
smearSpread or defame
calumnyMalicious false statement

vilify · denigrate · discredit · tarnish · scandal · aspersion · impugn · disparage · malign · defamation

dishonored

disgraced

Brought into shame

shamedMade to feel disgrace
humiliatedMade to feel worthless
degradedReduced in rank or quality

scorned · sullied · denigrated · abased · condemned · ostracized · demeaned · fallen · ignominy · infamy

soiled

stained

Marred by discoloration

smudgedBlurred by contact
dirtyNot clean
grimyCoated in stubborn dirt

filthy · spotted · blotted · smeared · splattered · bespattered · muddied · streaked · grubby · begrimed

Categories

cleanlinessclean, cleanliness, clean up, dirty, neatness
humiliationashamed, abasement, embarrassed, chagrin, mortified
outcastsoutcast, pariah, pariahs, outcasts, outlaws

Opposites

reputation/honor

besmirchedhonored

Given recognition or respect

celebrated · esteemed · exalted · venerated · praised

moral purity/cleanliness

besmirchedunsullied

Not made impure

untarnished · unblemished · pure · clean · unsoiled

Family

besmirch, besmirching, besmirches

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G