as in to stain
to make dirty
she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of smudge
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
But the Times reported a fingerprint on the bottle was too smudged to help the investigation.
—Donovan Slack, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 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
Lipstick If your guests' holiday glam leaves your napkins smudged with lipstick, start by treating the stain with liquid laundry detergent.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
But the Times reported a fingerprint on the bottle was too smudged to help the investigation.
—Donovan Slack, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudge
Verb
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The clay could have been put onto the bone directly, or the bone could have been held in a cloth already stained with red ochre.Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
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The assault permanently stained Yarrow's reputation, particularly in the #MeToo era, as he was regularly disinvited from events once his name became known as a performing guest.Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Wexler regrets one thing: that his campaign had no time to check on who was behind the Noise Pollution Action Fund, as the press did so quickly after he was endorsed — too late in the campaign for Wexler to escape the taint.Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
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The sordid origin story of infidelity that explains Elphaba’s birth and dysfunctional family taints everything that follows.Armond White, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Having dirtied himself in the catacombs beneath the papacy’s home, our scrappy archaeologist emerges into none other than a resplendent re-creation of the Sistine Chapel.Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
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Arizona Republic Cool weather and the holiday season may seem like the perfect excuse to cozy up by the fire, but too many blazing yule logs can dirty the air and put some of your neighbors at risk.Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Red Wine or Dark-Colored Food Stains As quickly as possible, lift away any solids and blot, blot, blot away the moisture.Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2024
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For coffee stains on carpet, blot the spill first to soak up as much liquid as possible.Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Eaton fire, which started after the Palisades blaze in the Altadena area, has blackened more than 14,000 acres, destroyed or damaged 7,000 homes and other structures, and killed 17 people, officials say.Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
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Hands blackened from picking through the rubble of what was left of his home camp.Will Carless, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudge. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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