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"Tarnish" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "empañar", and "taint" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "contaminar". Learn more about the difference between "tarnish" and "taint" below.
tarnish(
tar
-
nihsh
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to sully)
a. empañar
He tried to tarnish Alicia's reputation by repeating previously disproven accusations.Trató de empañar la reputación de Alicia mediante la repetición de acusaciones previamente refutadas.
b. manchar
His constant lies have tarnished his name so much that no one will want to do business with him.Sus constantes mentiras han manchado su nombre tanto que nadie querrá hacer negocios con él.
a. deslustrar
If you use that detergent to wash the silver cutlery, you're going to tarnish it.Si utilizas ese detergente para lavar la cubertería de plata, la vas a deslustrar.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. deslustrarse
Silver tarnishes when it gets exposed to sulfur.La plata se deslustra cuando se expone al azufre.
b. empañarse
Brass will tarnish if not polished often.El latón se empaña si no se pule frecuentemente.
taint(
teynt
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. contaminar
The water supply has been tainted with nitrates from products used in agriculture.El suministro de agua ha sido contaminado con nitratos que provienen de insumos agrícolas.
2. (to sully)
a. mancillar
The scandal tainted not only my good name but that of my whole family.El escándalo mancilló no solamente mi buen nombre sino el de toda mi familia.
b. manchar
The elections were tainted by allegations of vote-rigging.Las elecciones se vieron manchadas por las acusaciones de amaño de votos.
c. empañar
The candidate's campaign was tainted by a corruption scandal involving his brother.La campaña del candidato quedó empañada por un escándalo de corrupción en el que estaba involucrado su hermano.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. la contaminación (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
When I was a child, these rivers were free from the taint of pesticides and other agricultural residues.Cuando yo era pequeña, estos ríos estaban libres de la contaminación de los pesticidas y otros residuos agrícolas.
4. (stain)
a. la mancha (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
In Christian theology Jesus was free from the taint of sin.En la teología cristiana, Jesucristo estaba libre de la mancha del pecado.
b. la mácula (F) (literary)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase restricted in usage to literature or established writing (e.g., sex, once upon a time).
There was no taint on his reputation.Tenía una reputación sin mácula.
