smirches
Blemishes on reputation
Smirches is the plural of smirch—a stain, spot, or mark that soils something.
The word applies equally to physical dirt and to reputation: The scandal left smirches on his character.
As a verb form, smirches means makes dirty or disgraces: Mud smirches the hem of her dress.
The word is literary and uncommon.
False statements harming reputation
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- aspersionsDefamatory remarks or accusations
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- libelPrinted defamation
dishonor · disgrace · taint · scandal · accusations · slurs · vilification · mudslinging
defamation
False statements harming reputation
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- aspersionsDefamatory remarks or accusations
- calumnyMalicious false statement
libel · dishonor · disgrace · taint · scandal · accusations · slurs · vilification · mudslinging · character
marks
Visible signs or grades
smudges · streaks · discolorations · soiling · dirt · grime · splotches · tarnish · smears · sullying
besmirch, besmirching, besmirched, smirch, besmirches, smirching, unsmirched, smirched