The word “sully” means to soil, stain, or tarnish something, often in a moral or reputational sense. For example, “His actions sully the reputation of the entire organization.”
Some synonyms for “sully” are “taint”, “besmirch”, and “defile”.
“Taint” implies the introduction of something harmful or corrupt that spoils or degrades. For instance, “The scandal tainted his political career.” It suggests that something has been contaminated or made impure.
“Besmirch” emphasizes the act of smearing or soiling someone’s reputation or character. For example, “Don’t besmirch his good name with unfounded accusations.” It conveys a sense of unjust damage being done to a person’s honor or integrity.
“Defile” can mean to make physically or morally unclean. For example, “The vandals defiled the sacred monument.” It has a stronger connotation of desecration or violation.
In conclusion, these words all share the common idea of spoiling or marring something that was once pure or good. Whether it’s a reputation, a place, or a moral principle, “sully”, “taint”, “besmirch”, and “defile” all describe actions that bring about a negative change.