Sully vs. Tarnish — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 9, 2024
Sully and tarnish both mean to spoil something's purity or appearance. Sully implies a broader defilement that affects one's reputation or cleanliness, while tarnish refers to discoloration or dulling, especially of metals or figuratively in reputation.
Difference Between Sully and Tarnish
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sully is a verb that means to soil, stain, or ruin something, often in a way that affects purity or reputation. Tarnish, also a verb, means to discolor or diminish the luster of a surface, especially metals, or metaphorically to reduce someone's good name.
Sully is often used to describe actions that lead to a negative perception of a person, organization, or concept. Tarnish primarily denotes a gradual, visible decline in quality, especially in appearance or reputation.
Sully implies a broader contamination that can involve cleanliness or moral integrity. Tarnish, on the other hand, is more specific to gradual discoloration or degradation, particularly on metals like silver and brass.
Sully is used metaphorically to suggest moral corruption or the spoiling of an untainted reputation. Tarnish often metaphorically signifies damage to a positive image that may take time to accumulate.
Sully can have a more immediate impact on perception or cleanliness, whereas tarnish is gradual, implying wear over time or prolonged exposure.
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Comparison Chart
Meaning
To soil, stain, or ruin
To discolor, dull, or reduce luster
Moral Impact
Corrupts or defiles reputation
Gradually harms or diminishes reputation
Usage
Soiling clothes, defaming reputation
Metal discoloration, image degradation
Timeframe
Can be immediate or sudden
Gradual over time
Contexts
Reputation, cleanliness, purity
Metalwork, image, or moral character
Compare with Definitions
Sully
To soil, stain, or damage something's purity.
The mud on her dress sullied its pristine white color.
Tarnish
To lose or cause to lose luster or brightness.
The silverware tarnished due to years of neglect.
Sully
To corrupt or contaminate the integrity of something.
His unethical actions sullied the organization’s ethical standards.
Tarnish
To discolor or diminish in quality.
Air pollution tarnished the building's metal surfaces.
Sully
To bring dishonor or discredit to.
The unfounded accusations sullied the company’s image.
Tarnish
To damage or diminish someone's reputation over time.
The athlete's reputation was tarnished by doping allegations.
Sully
To tarnish or ruin a person's reputation.
The scandal sullied the politician's once-glowing reputation.
Tarnish
A dullness or discoloration on a surface.
The brass sculpture developed a green tarnish over the years.
Sully
To soil or dirty a previously clean surface.
The spilled wine sullied the white carpet.
Tarnish
To mar or spoil the integrity or quality of something.
The faulty products tarnished the company's reputation for quality.
Sully
To mar the cleanness or luster of; soil or stain.
Tarnish
Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms over copper, brass, aluminum, magnesium, neodymium and other similar metals as their outermost layer undergoes a chemical reaction. Tarnish does not always result from the sole effects of oxygen in the air.
Sully
To defile; taint
Sully a reputation.
Tarnish
To dull the luster of; discolor, especially by exposure to air or dirt
Being in the ground for so long tarnished the old coins.
Sully
Something that stains or spots.
Tarnish
To detract from or spoil
A tasteless meal that tarnished an otherwise pleasant evening.
Sully
(transitive) To soil or stain; to dirty.
He did not wish to sully his hands with gardening.
Tarnish
To bring disgrace to; sully
A scandal that tarnished his reputation.
Sully
(transitive) To corrupt or damage.
She tried to sully her rival’s reputation with a suggestive comment.
Tarnish
To lose luster; become discolored
A metal that tarnishes quickly.
Sully
To become soiled or tarnished.
Tarnish
To become less enjoyable or estimable
Her admiration for the movie's producer quickly tarnished.
Sully
A blemish.
Tarnish
The condition of being tarnished
No sign of tarnish on the frame.
Sully
To soil; to dirty; to spot; to tarnish; to stain; to darken; - used literally and figuratively; as, to sully a sword; to sully a person's reputation.
Statues sullied yet with sacrilegious smoke.
No spots to sully the brightness of this solemnity.
Tarnish
A film or layer of discoloration on a metal surface caused by corrosion or oxidation.
Sully
To become soiled or tarnished.
Silvering will sully and canker more than gilding.
Tarnish
The condition of being disgraced or made less estimable
The tarnish on his reputation.
Sully
Soil; tarnish; stain.
A noble and triumphant merit breaks through little spots and sullies in his reputation.
Tarnish
Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.
Sully
United States painter (born in England) of portraits and historical scenes (1783-1872)
Tarnish
(intransitive) To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing.
Sully
French statesman (1560-1641)
Tarnish
(transitive) To compromise, damage, soil, or sully.
He is afraid that she will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees with her.
Sully
Place under suspicion or cast doubt upon;
Sully someone's reputation
Tarnish
To lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.
Sully
Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically;
The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air
Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man
Tarnish
To soil, or change the appearance of, especially by an alternation induced by the air, or by dust, or the like; to diminish, dull, or destroy the luster of; to sully; as, to tarnish a metal; to tarnish gilding; to tarnish the purity of color.
Sully
Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone;
The journalists have defamed me!
The article in the paper sullied my reputation
Tarnish
To lose luster; to become dull; as, gilding will tarnish in a foul air.
Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright,Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight.
Tarnish
The quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish.
Tarnish
A thin film on the surface of a metal, usually due to a slight alteration of the original color; as, the steel tarnish in columbite.
Tarnish
Discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation
Tarnish
Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically;
The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air
Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man
Common Curiosities
Can sully refer to moral integrity?
Yes, sully is often used to describe actions that defile or corrupt a person's reputation.
Does tarnish only apply to metals?
No, tarnish also applies to reputations and appearances, metaphorically.
What does sully mean?
Sully means to soil, stain, or corrupt something, particularly affecting cleanliness or reputation.
What does tarnish mean?
Tarnish means to discolor or dull a surface, especially metals, or metaphorically damage a reputation.
Is sully the same as tarnish?
No, sully implies a broader defilement, while tarnish focuses on gradual discoloration or dulling.
Is sully used for immediate impacts?
Yes, sully can have an immediate effect, like soiling clothes or ruining a reputation.
Is tarnish always a slow process?
Yes, tarnish generally suggests a gradual loss of luster or quality.
Can tarnish be prevented on metals?
Yes, metals can be polished or coated to prevent tarnish.
Does sully always imply intentional action?
Not always, sully can result from unintentional contamination or defilement.
Does sully have a noun form?
No, sully is only used as a verb.
Can tarnish refer to intentional damage?
Yes, tarnish can result from deliberate actions, like dishonesty affecting a reputation.
Can sully be used metaphorically?
Yes, sully metaphorically implies corrupting or defiling someone's character.
Is tarnish a reversible condition?
Physically, tarnish can often be polished away from metals, but metaphorically it might be harder to undo.
Is tarnish used metaphorically?
Yes, tarnish metaphorically refers to damaging a good reputation or image.
Does tarnish always indicate a negative impact?
Yes, tarnish always indicates a negative change, whether physical or metaphorical.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
