Verb: besmirch bi'smurch
- Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
"The tabloids tried to besmirch the actress's character";
- defame, slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate [formal], smear, sully
- Smear so as to make dirty or stained
"The mud besmirched her white dress";
- smirch
Derived forms: besmirching, besmirched, besmirches
Type of: accuse, charge, smear
Encyclopedia: Besmirch