1590s, probably from Middle French souiller "to soil," also figurative, from Old French soillier "make dirty" (see soil (v.)). Related: Sullied (1570s); sullying.
sully someone's reputation
Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man
The article in the paper sullied my reputation
sulfuric
sulfurous
sulk
sulky
sullen
sully
sulphur
sulphureous
sulphuric
sulphurous
sultan
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