smudged 1 of 2

adjective

as in stained
not clean every copy of the book that the store had was smudged

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smudged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of smudge
as in blackened
to make dirty she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of smudged
Verb
Loose waves and smudged eye makeup, sharpened with pink at the inner corners, kept the effect closer to one of her stage looks. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 July 2026 The school's statement said the receipt supporting the claim of the fake cigars had the time and date smudged out. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026 From the estuary of the River Plate, the city looks mysterious, almost smudged, its lines seeming less refined than those of Paris but more modern than Warsaw’s. — Literary Hub, 11 May 2026 Those smudged, hazy glass patio doors are not doing your indoor-outdoor view any favors. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026 This spring, expect lips to be blurred, eyeliner to be smudged, and skin to be soft-focus. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026 Then move on to large appliance fronts—specifically, those stainless steel fridges and ovens that are easily smudged. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026 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 The workers’ uniforms are smudged with stains earned underneath a car, wrench in hand. — Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudged
  1. stained
  2. blackened
  3. dusty
  4. dirtied
  5. filthy
  6. muddy
  7. dirty
  8. black
Adjective
  • Everything from the casting (male dancers, internet faves, and very few actual models) to the scenery (a 191-year-old venue with plenty of stained glass) to the ambiance (candlelit, with lots of bows and florals) embodied the brand's quintessential mix of romance, community, and nostalgia.
    — Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 June 2026
  • Spread the mixture on the stained area; leave it for 15 minutes before wiping it away with a microfiber cloth.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 June 2026
Definition of stained
Verb
  • Large sections of the ceiling were destroyed, blackened and charred, while the floor and tables below, some still with beer bottles on them, were blanketed in ash and debris.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • Pictures shared on social media after the fire was extinguished showed chairs and tables inside the pub completely charred and blackened, with parts of the ceiling peeling off.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026
Definition of blackened
Adjective
  • Sedum nussbaumerianum The Coppertone Stonecrop gets its name from the dusty copper color its leaves turn when exposed to sunlight.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026
  • The dry, dusty air can also help limit some storm development by creating a more stable atmosphere.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 14 July 2026
Definition of dusty
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
Definition of dirtied
Adjective
  • Dozens of people had spent almost a year living outside, filthy and exhausted, and for what?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • From shabby apartments to art experiments to filthy needles—with echoes of Patti Smith and Rebecca Makkai—Adler conjures an era of sorrow borne by too many, too young.
    — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • The crabs also burrow in the muddy seafloor to hide from predators and better withstand winter temperatures.
    — Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • For thrill-seekers, adventure tours, such as the Hall Crawl or Guts and Glory, offer hands-on spelunking experiences through muddy passages and challenging climbs.
    — Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Definition of muddy
Adjective
  • Red flag, a groomer who won’t show you the van, or a van that’s visibly dirty or cluttered.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026
  • Bloomfield says they might get shipped overseas to places where recycling is done in unsafe and dirty conditions.
    — Camila Domonoske, NPR, 13 July 2026
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • The impact sends the black car crashing into Garden Gourmet Deli and Grill on the corner.
    — Jenna DeAngelis, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • On a balmy June evening, a crowd of vampire obsessives descended upon the Upper West Side’s Beacon Theatre in a sea of black and red.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Definition of black

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Cite this Entry

“Smudged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudged. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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