as in stained
not clean
wiped the toddler's besmirched face with a damp cloth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in blackened
to make dirty
inconsiderately besmirched the carpet with their dirty feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of besmirched
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Trump has focused on tourist-friendly areas being besmirched by crime.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besmirched
Adjective
-
Tube benders also use stained glass, phosphorus and mercury to create other colors.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The stained clothes should be washed as soon as possible to help prevent discoloration or fading from the salty chemicals.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Now, the Beth Israel synagogue is indefinitely closed, its historic interiors blackened with ash, after authorities say a man set a fire in the building’s library in the early hours of Saturday morning.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
-
In all, more than 8,000 California wildfires blackened 525,223 acres, killed 31 people and burned 16,512 structures in the past year, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
So many downtown buildings and parking areas are filthy, smelling of urine and unmaintained.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Garments can be dirtied again by the elements if air-dried outside.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Dec. 2025
-
The ashes from the crematorium chimney covered the streets, sooted the rain, dirtied the snow, damaged the crops, infected every body.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Decades later, Betty Jo’s muddy adventures and big heart remain the role fans most closely associate with Henning.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The report presented a muddy view of the labor market, with companies reporting a low level of hiring but households showing employment gains.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Golden Globes are a pure and true celebration of artistry that stand for unflinching moral justice and should not be sullied by avarice!—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These chambers mimic Mars’ low-pressure atmosphere, dry conditions, and dusty surface.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Don’t sit at home getting dusty.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The checklist for cleaning the kitchen was probably just washing dirty dishes, wiping down countertops, and mopping the floors.—
Elizabeth Brownfield,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty.—
Shagun Khare,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Besmirched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besmirched. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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