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
Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Details are slightly smudged at ISO 1600 and 3200, and more noticeably so at ISO 6400 and up.
—PC Magazine, 23 July 2025
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2025
Waterproof mascara is a must for anyone who wants to avert a runny, smudge-y mess.
—Jené Luciani Sena , Caitlyn Martyn
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Verb
Dim sunlight smudges skies for only a few hours in the depth of winter.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Details are slightly smudged at ISO 1600 and 3200, and more noticeably so at ISO 6400 and up.
—PC Magazine, 23 July 2025
Noun
In the fraction of an onscreen second, limbs stretch, outlines smudge, and objects double, triple, quadruple, or more.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2025
Waterproof mascara is a must for anyone who wants to avert a runny, smudge-y mess.
—Jené Luciani Sena , Caitlyn Martyn
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudge
Verb
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Any home cleaning product can cause staining and shrinking.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
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Address any spills in your sink right away to reduce the opportunity for staining.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The taint is caused when a chemical compound, 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA), interacts with bacteria or fungi in the wine bottle’s cork.—
Jeremy Harlan,
CNN Money,
16 July 2025
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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
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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Red Wine or Dark-Colored Food Stains As quickly as possible, lift away any solids and blot, blot, blot away the moisture.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
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Wipe the area with a cloth dampened with cold water, then blot with a fresh sponge.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
Verb
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Currently, according to Applebee's website, menu items include bourbon street chicken and shrimp, hot honey glazed chicken and blackened Cajun salmon.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Video of the aftermath showed only debris from the collision and the ground blackened as though from a large explosion or fire.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudge. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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