blemished
/ˈblɛmɪʃt/ · blem·ished
adjective
- Having blemishes; marked by flaws or imperfections. The once‑pristine marble floor was now blemished with deep scratches.
- Having a tarnished or disreputable reputation. After the scandal, the politician's career was left blemished.
verb
- To spoil the appearance of something; to mar or spot. Rainwater blemished the freshly painted fence.
- To tarnish a reputation or character; to defame. The rumor campaign was designed to blemish the company's public image.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? Shakespeare used the adjective ‘blemish’d’ in *King Lear* to describe a character’s moral stain, illustrating the word’s early metaphorical use.