1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to paint
to give color or a different color to
stained the table to look like cherry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dirty
to make dirty
oil stained his work pants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blot
a mark of guilt or disgrace
the stain of this cowardly act would haunt him for the rest of his career
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stain
David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Their uniforms will forever be stained with the blood of their teammates.
—Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors said officers found Saenz with blood stains on his shirt, his wife with a gunshot wound to her back and the gun used in the shooting on Saenz’s bed.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stain
Verb
From such motives almost every page of history has been stained with civil blood.
—David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Their uniforms will forever be stained with the blood of their teammates.
—Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
And for particularly stubborn stains, carefully scrape them off with a razor blade.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors said officers found Saenz with blood stains on his shirt, his wife with a gunshot wound to her back and the gun used in the shooting on Saenz’s bed.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stain
Verb
-
The fact that Katherine had been institutionalized may have tainted her scholarly reputation.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Both the original news reporting and police investigation would be tainted by these sexist views.—
Nathan Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The movie plunks us down at Mar-a-Lago, where Melania struts out the door and into the back of an SUV, which will take her to the red-white-and-blue private plane painted with the word TRUMP that’s waiting for her at the airport.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The same brush painted the bleak picture for both schools.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The adventurous actress dirties up her frock and face to play the village pariah, who reeks of fish and would be no man’s idea of a suitable wife, except perhaps the one-eyed bum who sleeps in the town square.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
-
When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For ink and permanent marker stains, blot with a solvent like rubbing alcohol or acetone first.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2026
-
If suede gets wet, blot it instantly and use a suede brush and hair dryer to dry it.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Melasma is triggered by hormonal shifts after birth, especially changes in estrogen, which can keep pigment-producing cells overactive even after delivery.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Makeup artists also love it for its creamy, blendable texture and rich pigment.—
Emma Greene,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tempers flared during a recent pair of NBA games, and both contests were marred by tense clashes between players.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
To bring cameras into the equation might mar the authenticity of this pursuit.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Their hair was black, said Cook, while González saw hair that was brown and loose, black, blond, or cinnamon-colored.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Familiar streets and relationships sit behind the work, even when the backgrounds are reduced to color.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On Thursday morning, fire department trucks were tearing down the affected side of the building, which was entirely blackened and hollowed out from the flames.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
There's no better tool for making biscuits, cornbread, or blackened chicken than a cast-iron skillet.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stain. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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