How to pronounce besmirch
Say it like bih-SMURCH. Besmirch has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SMURCH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce besmirch. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- SMURCH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Besmirch pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SMURCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of besmirch
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: bih-SMURCH.
What does besmirch mean?
- To make dirty.
- To tarnish something, especially someone's reputation.“The newspaper was on a campaign to besmirch the actor.”
Where does besmirch come from?
From Middle English besmorchen (attested in besmorchid).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with besmirch
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of besmirch.
Questions about saying besmirch
How do you pronounce besmirch?
Say bih-SMURCH. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈsmɝtʃ/. In British English it is /bɪˈsmɜːtʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in besmirch?
Besmirch has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SMURCH). Broken into parts: bih · SMURCH.
Is besmirch pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /bɪˈsmɜːtʃ/ (bih-SMURCH).