smudge

verb \ ˈsməj \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: smudge in a Sentence

Definition of smudge

smudged; smudging

transitive verb

1 a : to make a smudge on

b : to soil as if by smudging

2 a : 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

See smudge defined for English-language learners

See smudge defined for kids

Examples of smudge in a Sentence

Don't smudge the picture with your dirty hands!
His face was smudged with grease.

Recent Examples of smudge from the Web

And the effect lasts all day — the formula is waterproof and wears without flaking or smudging up onto your lids.

— elizabeth siegel, Allure, "The June 2018 Allure x Kat Von D Beauty Box: See All the Product Samples You'll Get This Month," 14 May 2018
Alleven London's Colour Shield is the product that made Bey's skin look FaceTuned during her whole set, without streaking or smudging.

— cara kelly, USA TODAY, "Packing the ultimate weekender: Our favorite products for your carry-on or beach bag," 9 July 2018
Two performers share a pre-show kiss, barely touching so as not to smudge their flawless lipstick.

— NBC News, "On stage, Russian drag stars leave fears behind," 10 July 2018
Globs of polish just means longer drying time and a higher risk for smudging.

— janell m. hickman, SELF, "9 Ways to Not Ruin Your At-Home Manicure," 29 June 2018
And, for the love of god, the ink better not bleed or smudge until the end of the day.

— chloe metzger, Marie Claire, "This Stamp Eyeliner Is The Coolest, Least-Gimmicky Thing I’ve Ever Tried," 25 May 2018
Case in point: His decision to gently plant a kiss on then-girlfriend Gisele Bündchen’s temple (instead of smudging her glossy pout).

— grace gavilanes, PEOPLE.com, "9 Years, 9 Photos of Tom Brady & Gisele Bündchen Making Out on the Met Gala Red Carpet," 8 May 2018
There are filters, brush tools, gradients, smudging, cropping and erasing tools.

— kim komando, USA TODAY, "15 tech upgrades you can get for free," 15 June 2018
The ink has faded to brown over the years; the back of the page is smudged perhaps by food or fingertips.

— mary carole mccauley, baltimoresun.com, "In its newly renovated property, Walters Art Museum honors a woman once enslaved there," 5 June 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.

Origin and Etymology of smudge

Middle English smogen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

smudge Synonyms

smudge

noun

Definition of smudge

1 a : 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

—

smudgily

play \ˈsmə-jə-lē\ adverb

—

smudginess

play \ˈsmə-jē-nəs\ noun

—

smudgy

play \ˈsmə-jē\ adjective

See smudge defined for English-language learners

Examples of smudge in a Sentence

His hand left a grimy smudge on the wall.
the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal

Recent Examples of smudge from the Web

If you're grossed out thinking about all the sweat from your body, just think about all the oil and makeup smudges that come off your face.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Test Your Housekeeping Knowledge: How Gross Are Your Cleaning Habits?," 10 July 2018
For a sizzling night out, Tessa Thompson lined her eyes with a gleaming charcoal smudge, while Rihanna worked her signature crimson pout and Priyanka Chopra swiped on a deep bordeaux stain for dinner with Nick Jonas.

— jenna rennert, Vogue, "The 10 Best Beauty Looks: Week of June 25, 2018," 26 June 2018
The Laguna Beach Police and Orange County Sheriff's Department, tipped off by Dalu and Heuberger, searched the former 800Xchange office and confirmed that the smudges on the light switch and the door jamb were indeed blood.

— james vlahos, GQ, "The Mystery of the Killer Vacation," 18 Apr. 2018
One pale hairless gentleman repeatedly wipes at an invisible smudge on the table in front of him.

— mary horlock, Longreads, "The Camouflage Artist: Two Worlds Wars, Two Loves, and One Great Deception," 21 June 2018
The top slider stays closed most of the time, which has the fun side effect of protecting the front and back camera lenses from smudges or scratches.

— ron amadeo, Ars Technica, "The Oppo Find X kills the smartphone notch with a motorized pop-up camera," 20 June 2018
By late Tuesday morning, the critter was spotted a few stories up on a window ledge, its brownish body just a smudge on the building’s concrete and mottled stone exterior.

— karin brulliard, Washington Post, "A raccoon is scaling the side of a tall skyscraper, and it’s incredibly stressful," 12 June 2018
By late Tuesday morning, the critter was spotted a few stories up on a window ledge, its brownish body just a smudge on the building's concrete and mottled stone exterior.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "A raccoon is scaling the side of a tall skyscraper, and it's incredibly stressful," 12 June 2018
Try a waterproof, smudge-free option like Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara.

— Woman's Day, "7 Fun in the Sun Essentials," 29 Aug. 2014