as in staining
to make dirty
she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smudging
The soda company had a third line where people could get face paint; a young man was smudging red makeup all over his chest.
—
Gabriel Sama,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
Definition softens, dry lips are a constant, volume diminishes, and suddenly your favorite Pillow Talk Lip Liner is migrating and smudging into fine lines.
—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Always set your glasses face up on surfaces to avoid scratching or smudging the lenses.
—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Feb. 2026
Valentinetti was tasked with smudging out his work, which has left a ghost-like white blob on the angel’s body.
—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara & Primer Duo Tarte’s Tartelette Tubing Mascara & Primer Duo is an easy win for anyone who wants long, fluttery lashes without smudging or flaking.
—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
18 Dec. 2025
Pour a bit more over the stain after smudging, then leave it on for about 20 minutes.
—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
25 Nov. 2025
The water-resistant formula resists smudging and transferring under the eyes, without the impossible-to-remove downside of a waterproof mascara.
—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
An extra help is lip pencil, which can be useful to outline the contour of the mouth and avoid smudging.
—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
26 Sep. 2025
Gabriel Sama,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
Definition softens, dry lips are a constant, volume diminishes, and suddenly your favorite Pillow Talk Lip Liner is migrating and smudging into fine lines.
—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Always set your glasses face up on surfaces to avoid scratching or smudging the lenses.
—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Feb. 2026
Valentinetti was tasked with smudging out his work, which has left a ghost-like white blob on the angel’s body.
—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara & Primer Duo Tarte’s Tartelette Tubing Mascara & Primer Duo is an easy win for anyone who wants long, fluttery lashes without smudging or flaking.
—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
18 Dec. 2025
Pour a bit more over the stain after smudging, then leave it on for about 20 minutes.
—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
25 Nov. 2025
The water-resistant formula resists smudging and transferring under the eyes, without the impossible-to-remove downside of a waterproof mascara.
—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
An extra help is lip pencil, which can be useful to outline the contour of the mouth and avoid smudging.
—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudging
Verb
-
Sealing the grout keeps foods from staining it.
-
Natural stone can be more involved; it should be sealed before grouting and can require upkeep to protect against staining.
Verb
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And Hanceville’s fate is as murky as the fog that pours in at night, blotting out buildings and blackening the road ahead.
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These tungsten atoms would then condense on the slightly cooler inside of the glass bulb, blackening it and dimming the light over time.
Verb
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With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.
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Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.
Verb
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Marilyn, Nixon, the Kennedys, Bay of Pigs—we’ve seen Ellroy messing with this material long before the Quintet.
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Countless Renditions Campbell’s wasn't the only one messing with the tomato soup cake formula.
Cite this Entry
“Smudging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudging. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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