smirch

• Nom désignant une tache ou une marque de saleté, ainsi qu'une action qui apporte déshonneur ou opprobre à celui qui l'a commise.

A noun referring to a stain or mark made by dirt, or an act that brings discredit or dishonor to the person who performs it.

1. A dirty mark or stainC2formal

   A mark or stain on a surface, typically caused by dirt or grime.

   tache, salissure

   • There was a smirch of grease on his shirt.
   • She tried to wipe the smirch off the window.
   • The white tablecloth had a smirch from the spilled coffee.

   Synonymesblemishblotchdirtmarksmudgesmutspecksplotchspotstain

   Antonymescleanlinesspurityspotlessness

2. A stain on reputationC2formal

   An act or behavior that brings shame or discredit to a person.

   Tache sur la réputation

   • The scandal left a smirch on his otherwise clean record.
   • Her dishonesty was a smirch on the family name.
   • He tried to remove the smirch from his reputation by apologizing.

   Synonymesblemishblotdisgraceslurspotstainstigmatainttarnish

   Antonymesacclaimcreditgloryhonorpraise

• Verbe signifiant salir, tacher ou déshonorer ; rendre sale ou laisser une marque, au sens propre comme au sens figuré.

An archaic verb meaning to besmirch, soil, or dishonor; to make dirty or stain, either literally or figuratively.

1. Make dirty or stainedC2formal

   To smear or mark something, making it dirty or stained.

   Salir ou tacher

   • The mud smirched her new white dress.
   • His hands were smirched with ink from the broken pen.
   • The rain smirched the freshly painted wall.

   Synonymesbegrimebesmirchdaubdirtysmearsmudgesoilstainsullytarnish

   Antonymescleanpurifysterilizewash

2. Damage reputationC2formal

   To falsely accuse someone or attack their good name and reputation with malicious intent.

   Calomnier, diffamer

   • The politician's opponents tried to smirch his character with lies.
   • She felt her reputation had been smirched by the false rumors.
   • The article smirched the company's name without any evidence.

   Synonymesaspersebesmirchcalumniatedefamemalignsmearsullytarnishvilify

   Antonymescommendexaltglorifyhonorpraise