smirching
Staining with disgrace
Smirching is sullying or staining something, whether literally or figuratively.
Dirt smirches a white shirt; scandal smirches a reputation.
The word carries an old-fashioned, literary flavor: accusations smirching his good name.
It suggests not just damage but a kind of dirtying—leaving marks that are hard to remove.
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- calumniateSpread false damaging statements
traduce · malign · impugn · defame · disparage · aspersion · denigration · vilification
Painful awareness of failure
- dishonorLoss of respect
- ignominyState of dishonor
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
- disreputeDamaged public standing
humiliation · degradation · reproach · opprobrium · discredit · abasement · stigma · scandal
slander
Spoken false defamation
calumniate · traduce · malign · impugn · defame · disparage · aspersion · denigration · vilification · blacken
shame
Painful awareness of failure
disrepute · humiliation · degradation · reproach · opprobrium · discredit · abasement · stigma · scandal · contempt
stain
Lasting surface discoloration
blemish · blot · grime · filth · splatter · daub · streak · spot · muddy · muck
smirchingpraising
Voicing admiration
honoring · exalting · lauding · glorifying · vindicating