smudge

verb

\ ˈsməj

smudged; smudging

Definition of smudge

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to make a smudge on

b : to soil as if by smudging

2a : to rub, daub, or wipe in a smeary manner

b : to make indistinct : blur smudged the writing

3 : to smoke or protect by means of a smudge

intransitive verb

1 : to make a smudge

2 : to become smudged

smudge

noun

Definition of smudge (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a blurry spot or streak

b : an immaterial stain cleanse him of every last smudge of impropriety— 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

Other Words from smudge Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about smudge

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Other Words from smudge

Noun

smudgily \ ˈsmə-jə-lē

\ adverb

smudginess \ ˈsmə-jē-nəs

\ noun

smudgy \ ˈsmə-jē

\ adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms for smudge

Synonyms: Verb

befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, daub, dirty, distain [archaic], foul, gaum [dialect], grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, soil, stain, sully

Synonyms: Noun

blot, brand, onus, slur, smirch, spot, stain, stigma, taint

Antonyms: Verb

clean, cleanse

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 Web: Verb

Angelic Readers Readers continue to generously inundate me with solutions for Sharon F., who yearned for a mascara that wouldn’t run or smudge, leaving her with raccoon eyes: Anna C. suggests Clinique Lash Power Mascara. — Ellen Warren, chicagotribune.com, "Sandal season: Scratchy thong solution and the truth about summer stockings," 6 June 2019 Keep drawing hashtags and smudging it out to get a darker, smokier look. — Seventeen.com Editors, Seventeen, "50 Life-Changing Prom Beauty Tips You Haven't Heard Before," 19 Dec. 2018 This creates dimension and also helps to smudge it all out. — Glamour, "This Easy Eyeliner Trick Finally Helped Me Nail a Smoky Eye," 15 Mar. 2019 The first photo is a sea of chromatic noise, smudged up by noise reduction blur working overtime to produce a somewhat reasonable image. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "Google’s Night Sight for Pixel phones will amaze you," 25 Oct. 2018 But recently, renewed interest in them — both as a design object and a functional vessel for everything from joint remnants to smudge sticks — has piqued among many in the spheres of art, craft, and design. — refinery29.com, "Why Are Ashtrays Trending Again? Well, We'll Be Blunt...," 11 July 2018 Even boutique bar soap ain’t cheap: Saturdays NYC Moisturizing Bar Soap, made by a men's wear label, is $20 and Binu Binu Shaman Black Charcoal Soap is $18 (yes, charcoal — that which used to smudge chimney sweeps). — Tyler Watamanuk, New York Times, "When Did Soap, Once Simple, Get So Complicated?," 11 July 2018 Instead of trying to smudge the makeup with your finger, just lightly rub the primer over your crease-y and patchy areas, then dab and blend the makeup back into place (or erase it from your face). — Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, "WORTH IT: The 5 Insanely Good Beauty Products I'm Loving This Week," 18 May 2018 The default Pixel shot actually does an admirable job — most other phones would smudge the text to smithereens in such challenging conditions — but the night mode completely overhauls the photo. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "Google’s Night Sight for Pixel phones will amaze you," 25 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Nothing spoils a crisp summer outfit more than wearing white Converse sneakers covered with stains, smudges, and scuffs. — Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping, "How to Clean White Converse Sneakers, According to the Experts," 20 May 2019 But researchers only recently noticed the tattoos, which look like faint smudges under natural light. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Earliest Figural Tattoos Discovered on 5,000-Year-Old Mummies," 5 Mar. 2018 The trend, which looks just as good as an imperfect painterly smudge, is for amateurs and skilled makeup enthusiasts alike. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "6 Game-Changing Makeup Ideas for 2019, According to a Celebrity Makeup Artist," 21 Jan. 2019 If smudges or raccoon eyes are your problem, on the other hand, Eyeko's new waterproof 'Yoga' formula, named for its flexible, ultra stretch fibers, provides serious heft without clumps. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "5 New Black Mascaras You Need in Your Life This Fall," 17 Aug. 2018 At Brock Collection, makeup artist Gucci Westman accented sharp, inky lines along the upper and lower lash lines with smudges of charcoal pigment, while Maryam Nassir Zadeh enhanced thin, razor-sharp flicks by adding a backdrop of cerulean shadow. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "7 Beauty Trends That Ruled the New York Runways This Weekend," 11 Feb. 2019 To cleanse the space of negative vibes, Stassi lit a sage smudge stick and placed it in the center of our circle. — Nicole Dellert, Glamour, "Why I Held a Pre-Wedding Ceremony to Banish All My Exes From My Life," 2 Aug. 2018 To cleanse the space of negative vibes, Stassi lit a sage smudge stick and placed it in the center of our circle. — Nicole Dellert, Glamour, "Why I Held a Pre-Wedding Ceremony to Banish All My Exes From My Life," 2 Aug. 2018 To cleanse the space of negative vibes, Stassi lit a sage smudge stick and placed it in the center of our circle. — Nicole Dellert, Allure, "Why I Held a Pre-Wedding Ceremony to Banish All My Exes' Dicks From My Life," 12 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'smudge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.