tarnishing

/ˈtɑː.nɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɑrnɪʃɪŋ] /ˈtɑːr.nɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɑrnɪʃɪŋ] /ˈtär-nish How to pronounce tarnish (audio)/ (ame, mw)

tarnishing — verb

  • tarnishingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • tarnishings3rd person singular
  • tarnishinging-ing form
  • tarnishingedpast simple

1. used for making metal lose its shine, or for metal that is slowly turning darker

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

used for making metal lose its shine, or for metal that is slowly turning darker because of air, water, or chemicals

例句

The silver tray is tarnishing near the bathroom sink.

intransitive: be tarnishing + location

Salt air was tarnishing the brass sign outside Tuan's cafe.

transitive: tarnishing + metal object

同義詞
  • dulling

    broader; can describe any surface or edge becoming less bright or sharp

  • oxidizing

    more technical; focuses on the chemical process behind the change

  • corroding

    stronger; suggests deeper chemical damage, not just lost shine

反義詞
  • polishing

    describes making the metal bright again

  • shining

    describes the bright state rather than the repair process

文法句型

be tarnishing

tarnishing + metal object

tarnishing in damp air

用法筆記

Often used of silver, brass, copper, or jewellery. This sense can be transitive or intransitive, unlike sense 2, which takes an abstract object such as a reputation or name.

常見錯誤

❌The shirt was tarnishing after the wash.
✅The silver chain was tarnishing after the wash.
💡this sense is mainly used for metal losing shine, not for cloth changing colour.
❌The rain was tarnishing the sidewalk.
✅The rain was staining the sidewalk.
💡for ordinary marks on stone or cloth, English usually uses 'stain', not 'tarnish'.

2. used for harming the good opinion people have of a person, company, or achieveme

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

used for harming the good opinion people have of a person, company, or achievement

例句

False rumors are tarnishing the singer's name before her first tour.

tarnishing + someone's name

The bribery case kept tarnishing the mayor's image across the city.

tarnishing + public image

同義詞
  • damaging

    broader and more neutral; it does not suggest lost honour or shine

  • sullying

    more literary; stresses moral dirtiness or shame

  • undermining

    focuses on weakening trust or support over time

反義詞
  • restoring

    suggests repairing a damaged public image

  • enhancing

    means improving how good something appears

文法句型

tarnishing + reputation

tarnishing + name

be tarnishing + public trust

用法筆記

The object is usually a reputation word such as name, image, record, or brand. Unlike sense 1, this sense is figurative and does not describe a real change in colour.

常見錯誤

❌The scandal was tarnishing the silver trophy.
✅The scandal was tarnishing the team's name.
💡scandals and rumors damage reputations, not metal objects.
❌Mud was tarnishing my boots.
✅Mud was staining my boots.
💡use 'stain' for physical dirt marks on clothes or leather.

tarnishing — noun