smuts

verb

Definition of smutsnext
present tense third-person singular of smut
as in tars

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuts
  1. clouds
  2. smudges
  3. dirties
  4. soils
  5. smears
  6. stains
  7. blurs
  8. blackens
Verb
  • There’s a running joke about the MCU having the most magical water that clouds everything.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The United States’ relationship with its partners in the region also clouds its messaging and invites escalation.
    — Erik Lin-Greenberg, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
Definition of clouds
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
Definition of smudges
Verb
  • The adventurous actress dirties up her frock and face to play the village pariah, who reeks of fish and would be no man’s idea of a suitable wife, except perhaps the one-eyed bum who sleeps in the town square.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of dirties
Verb
  • Volcanic vineyard soils on display at Omina Romana.
    — Layne Randolph, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
  • At one point, the prisoner soils himself, prompting a vomitous reaction.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Definition of soils
Verb
  • Darker smears around the crater’s rim contain surface rocks and lunar dust called regolith previously altered by solar winds, micrometeorites, and cosmic radiation over an extended period of time.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The atmosphere works on them a little bit harder and reduces their strength and smears them a little bit more.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of smears
Verb
  • The self-tan wipes are easy to apply and contain exfoliating acids that smooth the skin, plus encapsulated DHA (the ingredient that stains the skin) to leave behind a radiant tan.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Homemade plum compote stains the filling with a vibrant red ribbon.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of stains
Verb
  • The trip is the most recent example of how the president blurs the line between official business and travel in ways that can benefit his family business.
    — Will Weissert, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Their intense rivalry, ignited by Punk's title victory over Owens' friend Sami Zayn, masterfully blurs the lines between reality and storyline.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of blurs
Verb
  • As the salmon blackens in a skillet, the spices awaken, encrusting the fish in peppery piquant.
    — The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of blackens
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

smutches
smuts
smutted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smuts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuts. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of southpaw

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All