sully

/ˈsʌli/ (bre, ipa) · [sˈʌli] /ˈsʌli/ (ame, ipa) · [sˈʌli] /ˈsə-lē/ (ame, mw)

sully — verb

  • sullypresent simple I / you / we / they
  • sullieshe / she / it
  • sulliedpast simple
  • sullying-ing form

1. to damage the respected, clean, or admirable quality of something, especially a

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to damage the respected, clean, or admirable quality of something, especially a person's name, image, or honor

例句

The cheating scandal sullied the school's good name across the town.

collocation: sully a good name

João feared the rumor would sully the family's good name.

同義詞
  • taint

    broader and can describe moral, physical, or emotional corruption

  • tarnish

    often milder and very common for damaging a reputation

  • blacken

    strongly stresses ruining someone's good name in public

反義詞
  • honor

    emphasizes giving respect rather than harming it

  • cleanse

    suggests removing moral or symbolic damage

文法句型

sully + name / reputation / image

sully + memory / celebration

用法筆記

Usually used in formal writing or serious speech. The object is often an abstract thing that should remain respected or untarnished, such as a reputation, a memory, or a public image.

常見錯誤

❌The muddy shoes sullied the carpet.
✅The muddy shoes stained the carpet.
💡this sense is for harming honor or image, not for an ordinary dirty mark on a surface.

2. to leave dirt, smoke, grease, or other marks on something so that it no longer l

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to leave dirt, smoke, grease, or other marks on something so that it no longer looks clean

例句

Mud from the yard sullied the kitchen floor before dinner.

pattern: sully + surface

Greasy fingerprints sullied the glass door of the new shop.

同義詞
  • stain

    more common for leaving a mark that is hard to remove

  • soil

    formal and often used for making something unclean

  • smear

    focuses on spreading a dirty substance across a surface

反義詞
  • clean

    means to remove dirt or marks

  • polish

    suggests restoring a clean, shiny surface

文法句型

sully + cloth / wall / floor

be sullied by + mud / smoke / grease

用法筆記

This literal sense is quite formal and sounds stronger than everyday words like dirty or stain. It usually suggests visible smears or dark marks, not a light layer of ordinary dust.

常見錯誤

❌A little dust sullied the shelf.
✅A little dust made the shelf dirty.
💡'sully' usually suggests a more visible mark or smear than ordinary dust.

sully — noun