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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This mixture attacks stains a bit stronger than the water solution.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026 -
Season with salt and lots of pepper and bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking often, until the turmeric stains the mixture a wonderful golden color and the liquid starts to steam, about 3 minutes.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
-
Teachers Union leader Randi Weingarten smears Trump voters as fascists!—
The Hill,
The Hill,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
When are the Hoosier Lottery drawings held?—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Winning Triple Twist numbers 02-16-22-33-37-39 Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Truist details allegations against former bank executives Truist’s complaint paints a picture of betrayal and covert meetings preceding the exodus.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Jan. 2026
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Sherald paints Black people with care, and grayscale skin tones and flat fields of color shift the focus away from assumptions about race and toward character.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Though naturalistic and individualized portraits have often been celebrated as a triumph of early Italian masters, this portrait was painted some 1,200 years earlier, in the 1st century AD.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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Brasserie, for dinner, is moody space is a tribute to the original Fouquet’s in Paris, on the Champs-Élysées, with red velvet armchairs, black and white portraits of film stars, a roaming sommelier, and top-tier dishes.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 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 molasses coats the sugar crystals, giving brown sugar its characteristic color, moisture, and caramel-like flavor.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2026
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Dressing made with lemon, chili powder, cumin, and hot sauce coats a blend of rice and red beans.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The adventurous actress dirties up her frock and face to play the village pariah, who reeks of fish and would be no man’s idea of a suitable wife, except perhaps the one-eyed bum who sleeps in the town square.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Daubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daubs. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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