1. (v. t.) To soil; to dirty; to spot; to tarnish; to stain; to darken; as, to sully one's good reputation\; -- used literally and figuratively; as, to sully a sword; to sully a person's reputation.

2. (v. i.) To become soiled or tarnished.

3. (n.) Soil; tarnish; stain.

abuse attaint bedaub befoul benasty besmear besmirch besmutch besoil bespatter betray black blacken blemish blot blow upon brand call names censure contaminate corrupt daub debauch deceive defame defile deflower demoralize denigrate despoil destroy dirty disapprove discolor disgrace disparage engage in personalities expose expose to infamy force foul gibbet hang in effigy heap dirt upon infect lead astray mar mess mess up mislead muckrake nasty pillory pollute rape ravage ravish reprimand revile ruin seduce shame slubber slur smear smirch smouch smudge smut smutch soil spoil spot stain stigmatize taint tar tarnish throw mud at vilify violate vitiate wreck