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
Gerry J. Tucker, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Take some time to go around to each window and remove cobwebs, dust, or dirt with your vacuum and brush attachment or a broom so these aren't smudged along your window during the cleaning process.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 12 July 2025
Caroline Framke, Vulture, 22 May 2025
Along with showing fingerprints and smudges, the stainless steel top scratched easily, and the wood was soft, which led to concerns about surviving harsh winters.
—Megan Newton, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Verb
Other practices include chanting, working with crystals, smudging, seeking new learnings or experiences and technical detoxing.
—Gerry J. Tucker, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Take some time to go around to each window and remove cobwebs, dust, or dirt with your vacuum and brush attachment or a broom so these aren't smudged along your window during the cleaning process.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 12 July 2025
Noun
Smash-cut to: a scowling woman leaving a police station in a black minidress and the telltale thick eyeliner smudge of A Woman Who Doesn’t Have Her Life Together.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 22 May 2025
Along with showing fingerprints and smudges, the stainless steel top scratched easily, and the wood was soft, which led to concerns about surviving harsh winters.
—Megan Newton, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudge
Verb
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The color is also anti-fade, and won’t stain, shrink, or wrinkle.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Aug. 2025
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Block after block across metropolitan Milwaukee, piles of soaked carpets, waterlogged appliances and furniture stained beyond recognition now slump in front yards and along sidewalks.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Some argued that, given the presumptive unethical taint of such collections, human remains should be buried or otherwise respectfully disposed of.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
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That realization tends to color behavior, and taints the findings.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
17 June 2025
Verb
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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
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Some were prosthetic buttocks, but others were people’s own buttocks, but in various states, like dirtied down and with partial covering.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 July 2025
Noun
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For deep cleaning, use hydrogen peroxide for tough spots and clean the sweatband gently with a soft brush, then blot and air dry in a cool, dark place.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 June 2025
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Spray, blot and rinse to watch stains wash away in no time.—
BestReviews,
The Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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McFarland had been at the nursing home since March of 2022, when he was admitted as a hospice patient with a severe case of frostbite that left his feet blackened.—
Sarah Volpenhein,
jsonline.com,
25 July 2025
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Especially when his head gave a sickening whirl, blackening for a second, and his limbs seized again.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudge. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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