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
-
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
-
By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.—
USA Today staff,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
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The home, newly staged for sale by Francesca Grace, is featured in the 2012 book Houses of the Sundown Sea, which documents the late architect’s vision through plans, drawings, and photographs.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
24 Apr. 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 Cascio’s lawsuit paints a lurid picture of Jackson giving the siblings drugs and alcohol and exposing them to child pornography, all to help facilitate the abuse and manipulation.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
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So that opens the evening and paints a picture of how out of control things can feel sometimes.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The photographer has even captured glamorous portraits of the Prince and Princess of Wales at state banquets, sometimes sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the white-tie events that call for ballgowns and tiaras.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
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One source speculated that the portraits of the Bezoses may have been inspired by Condé journalists openly dreading the prospect of the billionaires owning Vogue and having Sánchez calling the shots.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
23 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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In contrast, aphids produce a sticky residue called honeydew that coats foliage and can later develop into a black coating known as sooty mold.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2026
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Once the sauce is glossy and coats the back of a spoon, remove from heat.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Daubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daubs. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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