sully meaning and definition

SULLY noun

Definition of Sully (noun)

1. United States painter (born in England) of portraits and historical scenes (1783-1872)
   • synonyms: Thomas Sully
2. French statesman (1560-1641)
   • synonyms: Duc de Sully, Maxmilien de Bethune

SULLY verb

Definition of sully (verb)

1. place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
   • "sully someone's reputation"
   • synonyms: cloud, corrupt, defile, taint
2. 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"
   • synonyms: defile, maculate, stain, tarnish
3. 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"
   • synonyms: asperse, besmirch, calumniate, defame, denigrate, slander, smear, smirch