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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When that protective finish gets damaged, the toilet actually stains easier and is harder to keep clean over time.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026 -
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
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
-
Displays show campaign ephemera and memorabilia, from Shepard Fairey’s iconic HOPE poster to children’s drawings.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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For almost a decade, the company headed by Elon Musk has been trying to fend off allegations that the assembly line in Tesla’s Fremont plant was a hostile work environment filled with racist slurs, graffiti and drawings of nooses and swastikas.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
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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The experience paints a fitting portrait of how Boston has evolved around these landmarks, which have become a part of everyday life.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
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Allegedly, Buckingham Palace leaned on the press to downplay the severity of the king’s illness last year, which paints a picture of a monarch who’s much sicker than people want to believe.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 June 2026
Noun
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The art show paired portraits of animals that exhibit same-sex behaviors, like peacocks and flamingos, and was meant to be a commentary on how queerness has been hidden throughout history, leaving artists to use symbolism to communicate their point of view.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
-
Some viewers and beginner-painters valued his bare-bones instructions on how to create unchallenging landscape portraits, while still some others undoubtedly enjoyed Ross and his painting lessons for their snark value.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
4 June 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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On the palate, the whiskey delivers a medium-to-full-bodied texture with a pleasantly oily mouthfeel that coats the tongue without feeling heavy.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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Return the egg mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and coats a spatula (about 170 degrees Fahrenheit).—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Daubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daubs. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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