sully

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sul|ly /s'ʌli/ (sullies sullying sullied)
1 [VERB] be V-ed, V n
If something is sullied by something else, it is damaged so that it is no longer pure or of such high value. (FORMAL)
The City's reputation has been sullied by scandals like those at Lloyd's...
She claimed they were sullying her good name.
2 [VERB] V n
If someone sullies something, they make it dirty. (FORMAL)
I felt loath to sully the gleaming brass knocker by handling it.

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