Synonyms of stain

stain 1 of 2

verb

ˈstān 

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

• taint
• mar
• poison
• spoil
• darken
• touch
• tarnish
• blemish
• smear
• soil
• degrade
• smudge
• blacken
• dirty
• vitiate
• discredit
• discolor
• distort
• corrupt
• tar
• blur
• disgrace
• pollute
• besmirch
• shame
• sully
• cloud
• dishonor
• smirch
• besmear
• smut
• color
• sink
• pervert
• abase
• lower
• debase
• demean
• foul
• subvert
• deprave
• cheapen
• debauch
• twist
• demoralize
• begrime
• bastardize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleanse
• purify
• elevate
• glorify
• magnify
• uplift
• dignify
• ennoble
• enshrine
• hallow

2

as in to paint

to give color or a different color to

stained the table to look like cherry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• paint
• color
• dye
• tint
• pigment
• brighten
• tincture
• tinge
• darken
• stripe
• bepaint
• lighten
• fleck
• marble
• tone (down)
• streak
• pattern
• speck
• speckle
• mottle
• striate
• polychrome
• daub
• checker
• dapple
• variegate
• embrown

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bleach
• decolorize
• whiten
• blanch

3

as in to dirty

to make dirty

oil stained his work pants

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dirty
• blacken
• smudge
• soil
• mess
• muck
• smirch
• besmirch
• grime
• muddy
• sully
• daub
• mire
• befoul
• distain
• taint
• foul
• contaminate
• discolor
• gaum
• bemire
• pollute
• begrime
• defile
• disarray
• disorder
• disarrange
• muddle
• dishevel
• jumble
• crock
• draggle
• confuse
• colly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clean
• cleanse
• purify
• wipe
• purge
• wash
• decontaminate
• brush
• disinfect
• sweep
• scrub
• dust
• rinse
• mop
• sanitize
• renew
• launder
• scour
• brighten
• freshen
• spruce (up)
• straighten (up)
• dry-clean
• deodorize
• tidy (up)

stain

2 of 2

noun

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

• blot
• taint
• stigma
• smudge
• guilt
• shame
• disgrace
• brand
• slur
• smirch
• spot
• sin
• onus
• ignominy
• infamy
• odium
• dishonor
• discredit
• reproach
• corruption
• disrepute
• obloquy
• black eye
• opprobrium
• immorality
• iniquity
• vice
• licentiousness
• depravity
• disesteem
• debauchery
• unscrupulousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• credit
• purity
• award
• honor
• right
• modesty
• chastity
• good
• integrity
• legitimacy
• stainlessness
• rectitude
• honesty
• goodness
• chasteness
• righteousness
• uprightness
• probity
• glory
• fame
• repute
• scrupulousness
• renown
• virtuousness

2

as in pigment

a substance used to color other materials

applied several coats of stain to the wood

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pigment
• dye
• coloring
• color
• colorant
• hue
• dyestuff
• tint
• tinge
• toner
• shade
• cast

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stain

Verb

Bookshelves are crammed with novels and almanacs, the wood boards of the ceilings stained dark in delicious contrast to the clean white walls and creamy linen furnishings. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

The yellow color from the fenbendazole stained his white goatee. — Trisha Thadani Kirsten Potter Tanya Pérez Devin Murphy, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Noun

In the backyard of the home, directly outside Douglas Herlihy’s bedroom window, the police found carpet and carpet padding with blood stains. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Others have used it to remove oily stains from their toddlers like crayon marks on carpet, and one reviewer says it’s saved many of their clothes from being ruined in a household with unavoidable messes from both kids and pets. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026