smudged; smudging
1
a
: a blurry spot or streak
b
: an immaterial stain
cleanse him of every last smudge of impropriety—
Richard Hanser
Richard Hanser
c
: an indistinct mass : blur
2
: a smoldering mass placed on the windward side (as to protect from frost)
3
: a bid of four in pitch that if made wins the game
Synonyms
Examples of smudge in a Sentence
Verb
Don't smudge the picture with your dirty hands!
His face was smudged with grease.
Noun
His hand left a grimy smudge on the wall.
the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal
Recent Examples on the WebMathew Rodriguez, Them, 31 Oct. 2024
And there’s endless ways to use these — along your lashline, in your waterline, create a wing or smudge it out.
—Felicity Carter, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2024
There are brushstrokes and smudges, as if the world were realized in pastels.
—Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smudge 
Verb
Usually, the go-to practice for smudging an area of rancid vibes is burning incense or palo santo.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 31 Oct. 2024
And there’s endless ways to use these — along your lashline, in your waterline, create a wing or smudge it out.
—Felicity Carter, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
This includes cleaning the windows at least once every six months to keep the glass free of smudges and stains and eliminate any dirt, dust, oils, or debris that may have built up on the window frame or in the window tracks.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2024
There are brushstrokes and smudges, as if the world were realized in pastels.
—Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smudge
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smudge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smudge. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smudge
1 of 2 verb
smudged; smudging
1
a
: to make a smudge on
b
: to soil as if by smudging
2
: to make a smudge
a chalk that does not smudge
3
: to become smudged
charcoal drawings smudge easily
smudge
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a blurry spot or streak : smear
2
: a fire made to smoke (as for protecting fruit from frost)
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