1
as in to stain
to make dirty
a tablecloth daubed with too many spills to ignore any longer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to smear
to rub an oily or sticky substance over
he begins his nightly transformation into a circus clown by daubing greasepaint on his face
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in drawing
Related Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of daub
Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024
The little daubs that represent passersby are miracles of characterization.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Friday’s attack comes just days after red swastikas were daubed on two synagogues in the Sydney suburbs of Allawah and Newtown.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for daub
Verb
Much as the eye might want to blot out the offending image, Photoshop it out of existence and daub more verdancy onto this screen-saver panorama, the reality of human habitation, and its concomitant messiness, must be reckoned.
—Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024
The little daubs that represent passersby are miracles of characterization.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023
Noun
Also on the red carpet tonight before Tom Tykwer’s opening film Das Licht (The Light), multiple protestors formed another protest, wearing masks and raising hands daubed in what seemed to be red paint.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Friday’s attack comes just days after red swastikas were daubed on two synagogues in the Sydney suburbs of Allawah and Newtown.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for daub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daub
Verb
-
The color is also anti-fade, and won’t stain, shrink, or wrinkle.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Block after block across metropolitan Milwaukee, piles of soaked carpets, waterlogged appliances and furniture stained beyond recognition now slump in front yards and along sidewalks.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The trash room’s walls had blood smeared on it, and a pool formed near the chute, according to the report.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
21 July 2025
-
On Thursday, his lawyers filed a claim for $20 million in damages against the Trump administration, alleging Khalil was falsely imprisoned, maliciously prosecuted and smeared as an antisemite as the government sought to deport him over his prominent role in campus protests.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Each catch is good for a ticket that's entered into a monthly drawing for a $100 prize.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Here’s a look at Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025 winning numbers for each game Cash Ball 04-19-28-33, Cash Ball: 02 Lucky For Life 01-11-18-29-34, Lucky Ball: 15 Pick 3 Evening: 9-9-7 Midday: 8-1-7 Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
McFarland had been at the nursing home since March of 2022, when he was admitted as a hospice patient with a severe case of frostbite that left his feet blackened.—
Sarah Volpenhein,
jsonline.com,
25 July 2025
-
Especially when his head gave a sickening whirl, blackening for a second, and his limbs seized again.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
And the so the people who bought the houses had the option to keep them or paint them beige, and everyone painted them beige.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Since announcing the federalization of the Metropolitan Police Department, Trump has sought to paint a picture of a lawless city that he’s set to clean up.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
That movie was an acerbic portrait of a friendship gone sour, laced with barbed insults.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
6 Aug. 2025
-
More than half of the permanent holdings are part of Mr. Frick’s vast original collection of Old Masters, family portraits, and other paintings, medals, ceramics, sculptures, clocks and watches, and decorative objects.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As more success suddenly comes his way, McKinstry has remained the same, friendly and chuckling at his locker, dirtying his jersey and pestering opponents on the field.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Some were prosthetic buttocks, but others were people’s own buttocks, but in various states, like dirtied down and with partial covering.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Some dailies, for example, are coated with phospholipid, which is what cell membranes are made of.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
-
For a delicious, air fryer-friendly cheese recipe, try coating your cheese in breading.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Daub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daub. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share