English verb: besmirch | |||
1. | besmirch (communication) charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone | ||
Samples | The journalists have defamed me!. The article in the paper sullied my reputation. | ||
Synonyms | asperse, calumniate, defame, denigrate, slander, smear, smirch, sully | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | accuse, charge | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | assassinate, badmouth, drag through the mud, libel, malign, traduce | ||
2. | besmirch (contact) smear so as to make dirty or stained | ||
Synonyms | smirch | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | smear | ||