as in to stain
to make dirty
she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smudge
Karpagam Narayanan, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The tequila daisy cocktail, served in a clay cantarito cup smudged with sumac salt, is piquant with ancho verde, mellowed with summer strawberry.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Then came the first image, a bright, blurry smudge.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Verb
Picture a world dominated by paper forms—carbon copies smudging under the relentless pressure of scribbled notes—a world where dispatching felt more like a chaotic game of telephone than a streamlined operation.
—Karpagam Narayanan, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The tequila daisy cocktail, served in a clay cantarito cup smudged with sumac salt, is piquant with ancho verde, mellowed with summer strawberry.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said investigators found palm impressions, smudges and a shoe imprints of the suspect and are hoping to collect to some DNA evidence.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Then came the first image, a bright, blurry smudge.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudge
Verb
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It’s made with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, and it can even be paired with your favorite lip balm or gloss — without staining the applicator — for an extra boost of moisture.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
In his third season in Boulder, coach Deion Sanders continues to lament an issue that ruined his first season and stained his second.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Take care not to touch the glands, or your hands will carry their taint to the meat.—
Maurice H. Decker,
Outdoor Life,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The taint of it all has melted away.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At Dilara Findikoglu, models looked like ladies in waiting that had risen from the dead; wearing antiquated corsetry that was dirtied and torn.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
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As more success suddenly comes his way, McKinstry has remained the same, friendly and chuckling at his locker, dirtying his jersey and pestering opponents on the field.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Alaves is the only blot on their copybook.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Pretreat any stains with a stain remover of choice and blot with a dry white cloth to remove as much stain prior to washing.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Both of her eyes were blackened.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Sep. 2025
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The bronze had blackened and grown florid with green and white spots.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudge. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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