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

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

That extra step helps remove streaks, smudges, and dullness, especially on surfaces that catch the light. — Colleen Sullivan, Martha Stewart, 2 May 2026

Glass patio doors are one of the best features a home can have — until they’re covered in smudges, water spots and a thin film of grime that makes the outdoors look overcast even on a sunny day. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 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