smirches 1 of 2

noun

plural of smirch
as in stains
a mark of guilt or disgrace corruption charges that were a smirch on her reputation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smirches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of smirch
1
as in blackens
to make dirty their clothes were smirched by dust from the trail

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2
as in humiliates
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes this scandal will forever smirch the name of a once-great family

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirches
  1. stains
  2. blackens
  3. humiliates
  4. blots
  5. dirties
  6. discredits
  7. besmirches
  8. messes
Noun
  • While the worst issues were discovered at the Sleep Inn, site visits at the Holiday Inn and Fairfield Inn also revealed water stains, humid laundry facilities and signs of pests.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Spot treating fresh stains with a cloth or napkin dampened with plain water can often get rid of the problem.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of stains
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
Definition of blackens
Verb
  • Filming a scene in which Isaiah humiliates Cam, Withers asked Wayans to crack jokes about Kionte’s death — the defining event of Withers’ life, and his lowest point.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Diomande just humiliates fullbacks.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Definition of humiliates
Noun
  • Dabbing the cloth in rubbing alcohol, working away the dirty blots on the glass, waiting for the haze in my head to focus, and a new line to come to me.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • One of the few blots on last summer’s Leeds copybook.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
Definition of blots
Verb
  • 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
Definition of dirties
Verb
  • The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.
    — Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 1 Dec. 2025
  • Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.
    — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of discredits
Verb
  • The eggs were fluffy, lacking any of the rubbery slop that besmirches lesser breakfast burritos.
    — Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 1 Dec. 2025
  • This cynicism inevitably besmirches players, coaches, and referees who have no ties to gambling.
    — Danny Funt, New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of besmirches
Verb
  • Ships, like airplanes, are designed with fluid dynamics in mind, and biofoul seriously messes that up.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • From pet hair to crumbs, this Shark handheld cordless vacuum cleaner can tackle messes large and small, thanks to strong suction and a self-cleaning brush that resists pet hair accumulation.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Definition of messes
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Smirches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirches. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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