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
  • In other words, the show is a celebration of America’s 250th birthday, but one that smears a little cake on the country’s face.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 27 June 2026
  • This chilling, starkly beautiful ambient piece draws Nebraska’s marginal whispers to the forefront and smears them across the picture plane.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of smears
Verb
  • They’re formed when a grain of grit enters an oyster’s shell, and the mollusk coats that irritant with layer after layer of nacre.
    — ByKaren R. McDaniel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Bring to a low boil, then cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 more minutes until the sauce coats the chicken bites.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Definition of coats
Verb
  • The latest report paints a picture of a manufacturing industry that is still latched to legacy systems, with an eagerness to dabble in AI, but with second thoughts about fully committing to it.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 16 July 2026
  • That’s been heartbreaking for some PlayStation collectors, and taken with the mass layoffs at Xbox, this particular moment paints a troubling picture for the future of video games and their production overall.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 July 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 24 Jul. 2026.

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