1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stain
Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Lady Gaga was once again stained with blood at the MTV Video Music Awards.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
The Zen uses solid pine wood with a walnut stain finish.
—Julia Forbes, Wired News, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stain
Verb
Dental Hygiene Products Ingredients in some oral hygiene products can contribute to tooth staining.
—Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Lady Gaga was once again stained with blood at the MTV Video Music Awards.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
On the other hand, traditional stains can lack hydration or luster—leaving lips parched and in need of a balmy top coat.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
The Zen uses solid pine wood with a walnut stain finish.
—Julia Forbes, Wired News, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stain
Verb
-
Rahmani, the former prosecutor, said statements by Patel and other Justice Department officials could raise concerns about tainting the jury pool in a future trial.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Swift and Lively’s long friendship had been a distinct sub-plot in the IEWU legal battles, with tabloid fodder that the duo have fallen out over the controversy adverse Eras Tour performer getting tainted with the whole thing.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Red and white English flags have proliferated along streets and been painted on roads.—
Vitalii Yalahuzian,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The only scuffing—on shop doors, on the walls of the Métro—had been artfully painted on to make the scenery look appropriately aged.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As more success suddenly comes his way, McKinstry has remained the same, friendly and chuckling at his locker, dirtying his jersey and pestering opponents on the field.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Some were prosthetic buttocks, but others were people’s own buttocks, but in various states, like dirtied down and with partial covering.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Pretreat any stains with a stain remover of choice and blot with a dry white cloth to remove as much stain prior to washing.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Wipe the area with a cloth dampened with cold water, then blot with a fresh sponge.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
Aveda Botanical Repair Purple Toning Shampoo keeps your color cool with purple pigments that instantly tone down yellow and orange hues.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Reduces Inflammation Beets are a concentrated source of plant pigments called betalains.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The disruptions come amid a WNBA season in which multiple games were marred by the objects making appearances on the court.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Each death was devastating to relatives and friends left behind, and the first decades of the twentieth century were marred by individual grief on a global scale.—
Alice Vernon
September 8,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Their stems and new growth are wine-colored and do present a fresh and cheery look.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The concerns colored their respective candidacies to the point that key races were lost.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
High-Heat-Safe Alternatives While enameled cast-iron cookware is excellent to use for braising, roasting, baking, or gentle stovetop cooking, certain high heat applications like searing steak or blackening fish are best done in other types of pans, like traditional cast iron or stainless steel.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Her boyfriend had hit her hard enough to blacken her eye.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stain. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share