1. (

• defile ,
• sully ,
• corrupt ,
• taint ,
• cloud

) place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's reputation" ;

2. (

• tarnish ,
• stain ,
• maculate ,
• sully ,
• defile

) 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" ;

3. (

• foul ,
• befoul ,
• defile ,
• maculate

) spot, stain, or pollute; "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it" ;