bedaubs

verb

present tense third-person singular of bedaub
as in smears
to rub an oily or sticky substance over the toddler delightedly bedaubed herself with her mother's makeup

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bedaubs
  1. smears
  2. coats
  3. paints
Verb
  • Darker smears around the crater’s rim contain surface rocks and lunar dust called regolith previously altered by solar winds, micrometeorites, and cosmic radiation over an extended period of time.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The atmosphere works on them a little bit harder and reduces their strength and smears them a little bit more.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of smears
Verb
  • Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, the remaining 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and the garlic, stirring until the butter is melted and coats the beans.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The rich, silky formula coats the lips with collagen-boosting peptides, Brazilian acai butter, and African mongongo butter to plump and lock in moisture, while lactic acid and hibiscus flower enzymes buff away dry, flaky texture.
    — Tasha Nicole Smith, Allure, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of coats
Verb
  • The six-episode thriller paints an eerie image of small-town life in Newfoundland, and viewers are intrigued by the mystique of the striking Canadian backdrop.
    — Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Filmmaker and activist Omer Shamir paints a moving documentary portrait of this family, in their exile home, across one year.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of paints
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

bedaubing
bedaubs
bedazzle
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Cite this Entry

“Bedaubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedaubs. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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