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

No matter what color or finish is in during a particular season, true high-net-worth nails will always be centered on cared-for cuticles, immaculate polish placement (no smudges, chips, or flooding), and minimalist or neutral designs. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026

Be sure to clean up smudges with a cotton swab lightly dipped in makeup remover. — Micaela English, Glamour, 14 Aug. 2026

Lindsay Jones, senior manager of PR and brand experience at Maytag, adds that stainless steel appliances are often located in high-traffic areas like the kitchen, meaning they’re touched frequently and prone to constant smudges. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026

Tubman is all but indecipherable, roughly limned with white paint and covered by red, black, and yellow smudges and drips. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

There are few actual notes to his melodies, just smudges and stains. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 30 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

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

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