How Do You Spell SULLY?

Pronunciation: [sˈʌli] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "sully" is quite straightforward, as it follows the typical English spelling rules. The word is spelled with a single "l" and a double "s" in the middle. The IPA phonetic transcription of "sully" is /ˈsʌli/, with the emphasis on the first syllable. The "s" sounds are pronounced with a hissing sound, while the "u" sound is a short vowel pronounced with the lips slightly rounded. This word means to tarnish or besmirch something's reputation or character.

SULLY Meaning and Definition

  1. Sully is a verb that refers to the act of tarnishing or staining something, usually by making it dirty, impure, or morally questionable. This term typically implies that the pristine or previous state of the object or reputation has been compromised or harmed in some way.

    When used in a physical sense, sully denotes the act of rendering something unclean, besmirched, or soiled. For example, if a person spills a beverage on a white carpet, they would sully it by making it dirty and leaving a stain. Similarly, if a painting is smudged or marked, it can be said to be sullied, as its original state of cleanliness or flawlessness has been marred.

    However, sully is also commonly employed to describe the tarnishing or damaging of a person's reputation or character. If someone engages in dishonest or scandalous behavior, they may be accused of sullying their good name or reputation. Similarly, a public figure or organization can be said to have sullied their public image if they are involved in a scandal or controversial event.

    In summary, sully refers to the act of staining, contaminating, or tainting something, whether it be physical objects, reputation, or character. It conveys the idea of tarnishing or compromising the previous state or perception of purity, cleanliness, or integrity.

  2. To soil; to tarnish; to stain or darken; to dirty.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for SULLY *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for SULLY

Etymology of SULLY

The word "sully" originated from Middle English "sullen" or "sullien", which comes from Old French "souillier". The Old French term means "to soil" or "to dirty". It is derived from the Latin word "solutus", which means "loose" or "free". Over time, the meaning of "sully" evolved to refer to actions that tarnish or stain someone's reputation or character.

Idioms with the word SULLY

  • sully (one's) hands The idiom "sully (one's) hands" means to participate in or be involved in morally questionable or unethical activities that may negatively affect one's reputation or character. It implies engaging in actions that compromise one's integrity or tarnish one's good name.
  • sully your hands The idiom "sully your hands" refers to engaging in or being involved in a morally questionable or unethical activity. It implies that by participating in such actions, one's reputation or character may be tainted or compromised.

Similar spelling words for SULLY

Plural form of SULLY is SULLIES

Conjugate verb Sully

CONDITIONAL

I would sully
you would sully
he/she/it would sully
we would sully
they would sully

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be sullying
you would be sullying
he/she/it would be sullying
we would be sullying
they would be sullying

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have sully
you would have sully
he/she/it would have sully
we would have sully
they would have sully

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been sullying
you would have been sullying
he/she/it would have been sullying
we would have been sullying
they would have been sullying

FUTURE

I will sully
you will sully
he/she/it will sully
we will sully
they will sully

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be sullying
you will be sullying
he/she/it will be sullying
we will be sullying
they will be sullying

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have sullied
you will have sullied
he/she/it will have sullied
we will have sullied
they will have sullied

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been sullying
you will have been sullying
he/she/it will have been sullying
we will have been sullying
they will have been sullying

IMPERATIVE

you sully
we let´s sully

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to sully

PAST

I sullied
you sullied
he/she/it sullied
we sullied
they sullied

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was sullying
you were sullying
he/she/it was sullying
we were sullying
they were sullying

PAST PARTICIPLE

sullied

PAST PERFECT

I had sullied
you had sullied
he/she/it had sullied
we had sullied
they had sullied

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been sullying
you had been sullying
he/she/it had been sullying
we had been sullying
they had been sullying

PRESENT

I sully
you sully
he/she/it sullies
we sully
they sully

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am sullying
you are sullying
he/she/it is sullying
we are sullying
they are sullying

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

sullying

PRESENT PERFECT

I have sullied
you have sullied
he/she/it has sullied
we have sullied
they have sullied

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been sullying
you have been sullying
he/she/it has been sullying
we have been sullying
they have been sullying
I would have sullied
we would have sullied
you would have sullied
he/she/it would have sullied
they would have sullied

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