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
• taints
• discolors
• 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

Treating them incorrectly could just result in darker smudges or streaks. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026

There’s nothing more frustrating than spending time cleaning glass surfaces only to end up with streaks, smudges, or cloudy residue. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 July 2026

There are faint smudges of pastel crayon on the wall and carved profanities with paint chips revealing the previous cerulean walls. — Ashley Andreou, STAT, 22 June 2026

This will help buff it in and prevent streaks and smudges. — Deanna Pai, Glamour, 6 June 2026

The headphones didn’t feel noticeably heavier than their predecessor during our extended test run and were less prone to fingerprints and smudges. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 19 May 2026

For the British Crown, such frontiers were smudges on the edge of the map. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

Sunlight reveals streaks and smudges that are invisible under indoor lighting, so step outside or look at the glass from the patio side before calling the job done. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 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