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Added 9 October 2026

besmirch

/bɪˈsmɜːtʃ/ verb

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about besmirch at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To make dirty.
To tarnish something, especially someone's reputation.
The newspaper was on a campaign to besmirch the actor.

Origin

From Middle English besmorchen (attested in besmorchid). Compare Middle English bismotered (“bespattered, soiled”). By surface analysis, be- + smirch.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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