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Definition of "sully" [sul•ly]

  • To mar the cleanness or luster of; soil or stain. (verb-transitive)
  • To defile; taint. (verb-transitive)
  • Archaic Something that stains or spots. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "sully" in a sentence
  • "July 5th, 2006 at 4: 53 pm seabiscuit says: sully is another one: unless he is getting paid the billion dollars that the ceo of exxon got to deny climate crisis is happening, what’s in it for him? why do it? why lie about the fate of the earth?"
  • "There was no plot to 'sully' the reputation of Joe Wilson (not that identifying his wife as a CIA employee would accomplish that anyway)."
  • "President Nicholas Sarkozy was roundly criticized for losing his cool at the recent annual Agriculture Fair by insulting a constituent who refused to shake his hand (while saying it would "sully" him to be touched by the president.)"