as in staining
to make dirty
she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick
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Recent Examples of smudging
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
Morelo recounted hateful reactions to his art, including people smudging out and scribbling over his spots.
—Max Bacall , Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Rather than smudging black shadow under her eyes, Carpenter drew a precise line in her waterline and added a baby wing on the outer corners of her lids.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 7 Sep. 2025
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
Morelo recounted hateful reactions to his art, including people smudging out and scribbling over his spots.
—Max Bacall , Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Rather than smudging black shadow under her eyes, Carpenter drew a precise line in her waterline and added a baby wing on the outer corners of her lids.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudging
Verb
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Make sure the deck is completely dry before staining or sealing it.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
If staining persists, Flores recommends using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to gently rub the affected area.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
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.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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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.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
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.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
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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.—
Adam Roy,
Outside,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Stop messing with Wedgie, already.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
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Why are people messing with those cute little robots?—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smudging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudging. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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