Since the prefix be- in besmirch means "to make or cause to be," when you besmirch something, you cause it to have a smirch. What's a smirch? A smirch is a stain, and to smirch something …

BESMIRCHED definition: 1. past simple and past participle of besmirch 2. to say bad things about someone to influence…. Learn more.

BESMIRCH definition: to soil; tarnish; discolor. See examples of besmirch used in a sentence.

Definition of besmirch verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

3 meanings: 1. to make dirty; soil 2. to reduce the brightness or lustre of 3. to sully (often in the phrase besmirch (a.... Click for more definitions.

1. To stain; sully: a reputation that was besmirched by slander. 2. To make dirty; soil.

To besmirch means to dirty or tarnish, particularly someone's reputation — like when you call Billy a cheater at kickball (even though you know he's just better at bunting than you).

Jan 25, 2026 · besmirch (third-person singular simple present besmirches, present participle besmirching, simple past and past participle besmirched) (transitive, literary) To make dirty.

He has besmirched [= sullied] her reputation/name/honor by telling lies about her. [=he has caused people to have a low opinion of her]

To besmirch means to damage someone's reputation or good name, often through slander or unfair criticism. It implies making something impure or dirty, particularly in a metaphorical …