Definitions for besmirch
bɪˈsmɜrtʃbe·smirch

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. defame, slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirchverb

   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"

2. smirch, besmirchverb

   smear so as to make dirty or stained

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. besmirchverb

   To make dirty; to soil.

2. besmirchverb

   To tarnish, especially someone's reputation; to debase.

   The newspaper was on a campaign to besmirch the actor.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To Besmirchverb

   To soil; to discolour.

   Perhaps he loves you now,
   And now no soil of cautel doth besmirch
   The virtue of his will. William Shakespeare, Hamlet.

   Our gayness, and our gilt, are all besmirch’d
   With rainy marching in the painful field. William Shakespeare, Henry V.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. besmirch

   Defamation is the act of communicating to a third party false statements about a person, place or thing that results in damage to its reputation. It can be spoken (slander) or written (libel). It constitutes a tort or a crime. The legal definition of defamation and related acts as well as the ways they are dealt with can vary greatly between countries and jurisdictions (what exactly they must consist of, whether they constitute crimes or not, to what extent proving the alleged facts is a valid defence).Defamation laws can encompass a variety of acts: Insult against a legal person in general Defamation against a legal person in general Acts against public officials Acts against state institutions (e.g., government, ministries, government agencies, armed forces) Acts against state symbols Acts against the state itself Acts against religions (e.g., blasphemy, discrimination) Acts against the judiciary or legislature (e.g., contempt of court, censure)

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. Besmirchverb

   to smirch or soil; to discolor; to obscure. Hence: To dishonor; to sully

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Besmirch

   be-smirch′, v.t. to soil, as with smoke or soot: to sully.—v.t. Besmutch′, to besmirch.

Matched Categories

1. • Smear

How to pronounce besmirch?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say besmirch in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of besmirch in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of besmirch in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of besmirch in a Sentence

1. Cyril Ramaphosa:

   I find it very difficult to believe that someone like Gordhan, who has served the country with everything he has and so much pride and total honor, planned to besmirch Zuma and his government overseas, the actions Zuma has [taken] against Gordhan is based solely on assumptions.

2. James Mitchell:

   In my view, the CIA analysts and the CIA targeters are incredible, to do this, to besmirch them, I think, is beyond the pale.

3. Donald Trump:

   Why didn't somebody call the FBI 36 years ago ? I mean you could also say when did this all happen, what's going on ? To take a man like this and besmirch -- now with that being said, let her have her say and let's see how it all works out, i think it's a very sad situation. He's an outstanding person.

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