unsmirched

The white tablecloth remained unsmirched after the meal.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not soiled or stained: "unsmirched" means free from any mark, blemish, or stain, whether physical or figurative.
   • Unblemished reputation: It also describes a person or thing that has not been tarnished or discredited, especially in moral or ethical terms.

Usage Examples

• Physical sense:
  • Her white dress remained unsmirched after the long journey. (The dress was completely clean, without any dirt or marks.)
• Figurative sense:
  • His unsmirched record as a public servant earned him widespread respect. (His reputation was untouched by any scandal or wrongdoing.)

Advanced Usage

• "to remain unsmirched": to stay free from damage or criticism.

  • Despite the political turmoil, her name remained unsmirched. (Her reputation was not harmed by the events.)

• "unsmirched by": used to specify what has not affected something.

  • The landscape was unsmirched by industrial development. (The natural beauty was not spoiled by factories or buildings.)

Variants and Related Words

• Smirch (verb): to make dirty or stain; to bring discredit on.
  • The scandal smirched his formerly good name. (The scandal tarnished his reputation.)
• Smirched (adjective): stained or discredited.
  • A smirched reputation is hard to restore. (A damaged reputation is difficult to repair.)
• Unsmirchable (adjective): impossible to stain or discredit.
  • Her integrity seemed unsmirchable. (Her honesty could not be tarnished.)

Synonyms

• Unblemished: without any marks or defects.
• Untarnished: not dulled or damaged, especially regarding reputation.
• Spotless: completely clean; free from any flaw.
• Immaculate: perfectly clean or pure.
• Unstained: not marked or spoiled.

Antonyms

• Smirched: stained or discredited.
• Tarnished: having lost its shine or reputation.
• Besmirched: damaged in reputation.

Related Idioms

• "Whiter than white": extremely pure or honest; similar to "unsmirched" in moral sense.
  • The charity's leader was considered whiter than white, with an unsmirched past. (He was seen as completely honest and without any scandal.)

Etymology

• Derived from the prefix (meaning "not") and (past participle of , meaning to stain or soil). The root likely comes from Middle English , meaning "to smear."