BEDAUBED Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

bedaubed 1 of 2

adjective

as in gaudy

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Dissimilar Words

bedaubed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of bedaub

as in smeared

to rub an oily or sticky substance over the toddler delightedly bedaubed herself with her mother's makeup

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bedaubed

Adjective

Though his numbers aren't gaudy with only three career regular-season interceptions and one in the postseason, Gonzalez is a critical piece of the New England defense.

— Matt Schooley, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Investors, though, decided those gaudy numbers weren’t enough.

— Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of gaudy

Verb

The bombshell discovery in the little red dot spectra was that the colors of hydrogen were smeared out across multiple shades.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
Aware of them now, the dog shakes loose the can—his forelock matted, his jowl smeared with beans—and shrinks into the trees with a whimper that makes something tighten in Molly’s own chest.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of smeared

Adjective

As money hijacks morality and democracy begins to look like a hoax, Tresnjak’s Broadway-caliber staging contrasts garish spectacle with piercingly intimate scenes between Claire and Anton.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Bad Faux Foliage Overly bright fall foliage made from plastic or other unsustainable materials can look garish and off-putting.

— Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of garish

Verb

One of his biggest projects after returning to public life was a series of portraits of the Statue of Liberty, painted at the White House at the invitation of first lady Nancy Reagan in 1981.

— BETH J. HARPAZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
However, Lizzie painted a different picture of their relationship when questioned by police in the wake of the murders.

— Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of painted

Adjective

Although garden mums are considered hardy to Zone 5, breeders have developed fall mums with big mounds of showy flowers that may not be as cold-hardy as in the past.

— Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2026
Alliums Many people are surprised to find out that our good old culinary onion (Allium cepa) has a tremendous number of very showy cousins that are grown as ornamental bulbs.

— Paul Cappeillo, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of showy

Verb

In these pieces, which are coated in a palette of bright reds, dusky purples, black, and burl, their provenance becomes even murkier.

— Jill Singer, Curbed, 14 Sep. 2026
It’s coated with Kynar 500, a durable, commercial-grade paint coating that holds up outdoors against sun, rain, and temperature swings without chipping or fading.

— Lauren Murphy, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2026

Definition of coated

Adjective

Stepping into the venue felt more like entering a swanky cocktail lounge, with bar snacks and cocktails at the ready.

— Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
This beachy district of Morocco’s capital city, is now home to a swanky Four Seasons, but is still full of independent businesses and local culture.

— Gage Goulding, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of swank

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.

Browse Nearby Words

bedaub

bedaubed

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“Bedaubed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedaubed. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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