verb to damage the reputation of someone or something by slander or libel
The scandal threatened to besmirch the politician's career.
The character's reputation was besmirched by false accusations.
The defense attorney tried to besmirch the credibility of the witness.
The tabloid article was designed to besmirch the celebrity's image.
In journalism, a writer may use the term 'besmirch' to describe the act of damaging someone's reputation through false or misleading information in an article.
A psychologist may use the term 'besmirch' when discussing the impact of negative experiences on a person's self-esteem and mental well-being.
A lawyer may use the term 'besmirch' in a legal context to refer to attempts to tarnish a client's reputation during a court case.
A politician may use the term 'besmirch' when discussing negative campaigning tactics used by opponents to discredit their character.