1
as in stains
to make dirty
a tablecloth daubed with too many spills to ignore any longer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smears
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daubs
Verb
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What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026 -
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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The five pieces offer, in turn, biomorphic hints of de Kooning, the ragged shapes of Clyfford Still, the bold geometries of Ellsworth Kelly, the paint smears of Gerhard Richter, and something that looks like toothpaste squeezed onto an orange peel.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Users share research, pictures, videos, drawings and memes from major school shootings — with Columbine the dominant obsession — and connect through a series of ever-changing hashtags, adapted to avoid content restrictions.—
Meena Duerson,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
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By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.—
USA Today staff,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the salmon blackens in a skillet, the spices awaken, encrusting the fish in peppery piquant.—
The Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After his death while attempting a wingsuit flight in 2015, his friends began putting together footage that paints a portrait of a complex man.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
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Filled with music, color and passion, the drama paints a picture of a group of artists and friends for whom creativity has become a form of survival.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For instance, portraits of Kim II Sung, the founder and supreme leader of North Korea, and Kim Jong Il, the father of current leader Kim Jong Un, are mandatory in public places like train stations, hospitals, schools and factories.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
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Centred on intimate portraits of women rebuilding their lives, the film follows individuals shaping a future in the shadow of a shared past.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cleaning dirt and smudges off window glass helps sunlight penetrate into your home and will boost the amount of light that’s available to your houseplants.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
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Dim sunlight smudges skies for only a few hours in the depth of winter.—
Tom Vanden Brook,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The employee then coats the bite-size pieces in syrups and other toppings.—
Jenna Thompson
April 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
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Once the sauce is glossy and coats the back of a spoon, remove from heat.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Daubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daubs. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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