sullying

1. place under suspicion or cast doubt uponExamples: "sully someone's reputation"Synonyms: cloud, corrupt, defile, sully, taint

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

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