Synonyms of smudges

smudges 1 of 2

noun

plural of smudge

as in stains

a mark of guilt or disgrace

the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stains
• blots
• taints
• guilts
• stigmas
• slurs
• spots
• smirches
• shames
• onuses
• brands
• disgraces
• corruptions
• black eyes
• sins
• ignominies
• infamies
• discredit
• depravities
• debaucheries
• immoralities
• reproaches
• iniquities
• obloquies
• odiums
• vices
• dishonors
• disreputes
• opprobriums
• disesteems

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• awards
• credits
• honors
• purities
• chastities
• rights
• goods
• modesties
• glories
• fames
• reputes
• renowns
• probities
• honesties
• integrities
• rectitudes
• legitimacies

smudges

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of smudge

as in blackens

to make dirty

she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stains
• blackens
• dirties
• messes
• daubs
• soils
• sullies
• besmirches
• mucks
• muddies
• distains
• befouls
• smirches
• mires
• grimes
• contaminates
• gaums
• fouls
• pollutes
• begrimes
• discolors
• taints
• bemires
• disorders
• defiles
• jumbles
• muddles
• draggles
• disarranges
• confuses
• dishevels
• disarrays
• collies
• crocks

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleans
• cleanses
• wipes
• purifies
• purges
• brushes
• sweeps
• dusts
• washes
• disinfects
• mops
• rinses
• decontaminates
• scrubs
• sanitizes
• brightens
• scours
• launders
• renews
• freshens
• deodorizes
• straightens (up)
• spruces (up)
• dry-cleans
• tidies (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of smudges

Noun

These tiny mismatches leave smudges of starlight that can hide a faint planet in the image, meaning that the telescope’s ability to see smaller planets is limited by its overall stability. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026

Instead of bright or pure white finishes, creamy tones are more forgiving against scuffs, fingerprints, smudges, and everyday kitchen messes. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 3 Nov. 2026

Wipe Down High-Touch Surfaces Even when a car looks relatively clean, fingerprints, dust, and smudges can build up on various surfaces. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2026

Matte finish on inner screen shows smudges and makes black levels look less black. — ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026

Freshen Stainless Steel Coconut oil can be a great product for cleaning stainless steel, says home and pool expert Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Cabana—specifically to remove fingerprints and smudges. — Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026

Live music has become almost as synonymous with the festival as smudges of chalk on fingers and faces, and attendees were dancing and enjoying the performances in the light heat of the early afternoon. — Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Compared with the thick smudges of white on the fan that Amélie is holding, or the broad, lush strokes of the background, the sleeve is fidgety. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

The phone has a fingerprint-resistant finish, which is a relief for anyone who can't stand smudges. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

Cleaning dirt and smudges off window glass helps sunlight penetrate into your home and will boost the amount of light that’s available to your houseplants. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026

Dim sunlight smudges skies for only a few hours in the depth of winter. — Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025

But the writer-director smudges the lines separating an ancient evil from a sordid but disappointingly non-supernatural crime. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019