as in stained
not clean
every copy of the book that the store had was smudged
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in blackened
to make dirty
she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smudged
Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
In 2026, makeup artists predict a makeup rebellion, with perfectly imperfect glitter shadow smudged across lids, colorful mascara coating lashes, and ultra-pigmented lipsticks that stand out even further against a backdrop of velvety, natural-looking skin.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
The workers’ uniforms are smudged with stains earned underneath a car, wrench in hand.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The ink had smudged in a few places.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 2 Jan. 2026
That painting is a lot more smudged.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 19 Dec. 2025
Despite that galaxy appearing smudged over just a handful of pixels, astronomers are still able to discern something about the supernova’s galactic environment.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Dec. 2025
Without lenses or glasses, everything looks blurry and smudged.
—Billboard Korea, Billboard, 26 Nov. 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, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Or, show your burning desire with Byredo’s Burning Rose Candle and a refillable lipstick set (which will be lovingly smudged by the end of the night).
—Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
In 2026, makeup artists predict a makeup rebellion, with perfectly imperfect glitter shadow smudged across lids, colorful mascara coating lashes, and ultra-pigmented lipsticks that stand out even further against a backdrop of velvety, natural-looking skin.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
The workers’ uniforms are smudged with stains earned underneath a car, wrench in hand.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The ink had smudged in a few places.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 2 Jan. 2026
That painting is a lot more smudged.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 19 Dec. 2025
Despite that galaxy appearing smudged over just a handful of pixels, astronomers are still able to discern something about the supernova’s galactic environment.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Dec. 2025
Without lenses or glasses, everything looks blurry and smudged.
—Billboard Korea, Billboard, 26 Nov. 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, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudged
Adjective
-
The guest-only Chapel Club has a more plush, salon-like feel and there’s more than a hint of naughtiness with stained glass windows casting color onto the sensual artworks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
-
How To Remove Types Of Mattress Stains Step-By-Step Vacuum the mattress and stained area.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There's no better tool for making biscuits, cornbread, or blackened chicken than a cast-iron skillet.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Signs of overfeeding include white crust on the pot or media, brown, scorched leaf tips, mushy or blackened roots, stunted growth, lack of blooms, and leaf drop.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These findings suggest that strong, organized magnetic fields may have been common in the early universe, especially in dusty starburst galaxies like Arp 220's ancient counterparts.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
These Cabernets often deliver bold black currant, plum, and dark chocolate flavors, layered with savory iron, dusty spice, herbs, and mineral notes.—
Liz Thach,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Garments can be dirtied again by the elements if air-dried outside.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Over the last several seasons of the Movies Fantasy League, the one thing that’s been more consistent than the movies, the awards, or Timmy Chalamet scoring a hit in December has been all you players coming up with some of the most clever, goofy, dumb, sometimes filthy names for your teams.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Traditional mops move filthy water, conventional vacuums push fine dust back into the air and cleaning cloths need to be rinsed to maintain hygienic conditions.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The walk to the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, which is hosting men’s and women’s competitions at the 2026 Olympic Games, is a muddy one.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Once the ground is thawed enough to be worked with—but not oversaturated or muddy-feeling—use a rake or roller to try and even things back out.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Use of dirty plastic directly To optimize the structure for real-world use, the team utilized computer simulations to identify a design with a high stiffness-to-weight ratio.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The trucks hauling the snow frolicked in the water, sending dirty gray ripples toward me.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
An Iranian amateur boxer was shot and killed by Iranian security forces during ongoing anti-regime protests near Tehran, and his father spent a week searching before identifying his body in a black body bag.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The innocent girl turned jaded seductress, peeling off her sheer black lingerie to pose for the camera.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smudged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudged. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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