tarnishing

IPA/ˈtɑː.nɪʃ/
KK[tˈɑrnɪʃɪŋ]IPA/ˈtɑːr.nɪʃ/

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.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

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

Example

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

Common collocations
  • tarnishing silver
  • tarnishing in damp air
  • slowly tarnishing
  • tarnishing the brass handle
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • polishing

    describes making the metal bright again

  • shining

    describes the bright state rather than the repair process

Grammar Patterns

be tarnishing

tarnishing + metal object

tarnishing in damp air

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

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.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

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

Example

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

Common collocations
  • tarnishing a reputation
  • tarnishing the brand
  • tarnishing someone's name
  • badly tarnishing public trust
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • restoring

    suggests repairing a damaged public image

  • enhancing

    means improving how good something appears

Grammar Patterns

tarnishing + reputation

tarnishing + name

be tarnishing + public trust

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

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

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Tarnishing, dulling, corroding, and staining can all describe a surface looking worse, but the cause and result are different. Tarnishing is used mostly for metal that loses shine or changes colour because of air, water, or chemicals. Dulling is broader: a blade, a sound, or even someone's interest can become less sharp or bright. Corroding is stronger and points to chemical damage that eats into the material, not just a dark layer on the surface. Staining is used when a mark sits on or in a surface, especially on cloth, wood, or skin. A silver spoon can be tarnishing in a drawer, while a shirt is more likely to be staining in the wash.

tarnishing ↗dulling ↗corroding ↗staining ↗

Etymology

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun