sully

(noun) United States painter (born in England) of portraits and historical scenes (1783-1872). Synonyms: Sully, Thomas Sully.

(noun) French statesman (1560-1641). Synonyms: Sully, Duc de Sully, Maxmilien de Bethune.

(verb) place under suspicion or cast doubt upon. Synonyms: defile, corrupt, taint, cloud. Example: "Sully someone's reputation."

(verb) make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically. Synonyms: tarnish, stain, maculate, defile. Examples: "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air." "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man."

(verb) charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone. Synonyms: defame, slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, besmirch. Example: "The journalists have defamed me!" "the article in the paper sullied my reputation."