smirch
Stain or besmear
Smirch means to make dirty or to stain, literally or figuratively.
A reputation can be smirched by scandal; a white shirt smirched by grease.
The word is old-fashioned and literary, largely replaced by besmirch in figurative uses and by simpler words like stain or dirty in literal ones.
As a noun, a smirch is a dirty mark or a moral stain.
Mark left by spillage
- smudgeUnclear dirty mark
- splotchIrregular colored mark
- streakUnbroken series
- blemishVisible flaw or mark
discoloration · mark · spot · blotch · speck · daub · splatter · inkblot
Loose dry earth
- grimeIngrained surface dirt
- sootCarbon from incomplete burning
- filthFoul, accumulated matter
- mudWet soil mixture
grease · gunk · soil · sully · begrime · dirty · grunge · muck
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defameHarm reputation falsely
- malignAttack someone's reputation
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
calumniate · traduce · denigrate · disparage · impugn · asperse · blacken · drag through mud
Damage one's standing
contaminate · pollute · blight · mar · diminish · degrade · spoil · damage
Loss of respect
- disreputeDamaged public standing
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
shame · ignominy · opprobrium · taint · black mark
blot
Mark left by spillage
blemish · discoloration · mark · spot · blotch · speck · daub · splatter · inkblot · mar
dirt
Loose dry earth
mud · grease · gunk · soil · sully · begrime · dirty · grunge · muck
slander
Spoken false defamation
vilify · calumniate · traduce · denigrate · disparage · impugn · asperse · blacken · drag through mud · mudslinging
sully
Damage one's standing
defile · contaminate · pollute · blight · mar · diminish · degrade · spoil · damage
dishonor
Loss of respect
infamy · shame · ignominy · opprobrium · taint · black mark
- tarnishesblemishes, blots, corrupts, defames, denigrates