This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
While being held at the Independence Police Department’s detention unit, Ashley allegedly damaged the inside of a cell by smearing feces and blood on the walls and floor.
But across Oklahoma, the fluid is spreading uncontrollably belowground, blasting out of old, unplugged wells, polluting land and contaminating drinking water.
—
Katie Campbell,
ProPublica,
2 June 2026
The city had rezoned the area allowing polluting heavy industry to proliferate the community.
Also on the good side of things is Sean Bell’s lanky Sir Robin, the not-quite-so-brave, armor-soiling knight.
—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
On TikTok, as The Washington Post has reported, some creators are making $5,000 a month using AI tools to write scripts and animate extremely dumb viral videos where old men talk about soiling themselves.
In her response, Hajdini cast Rana as manipulative and deceitful, intent on ruining her life and besmirching her employer through his sensational accusations.
—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Kelly believes a book like this hasn’t been written before because people weren’t ready to hear the truth – as though acknowledging these famous people’s complete life experiences would be besmirching their legacies.
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.
The case exposes a flood of cheaply made, often fraudulent AI tracks on major streaming platforms, siphoning royalties, overwhelming detection systems and blurring the line between fan remix and scam.
—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
The formula’s blurring effect also helps pores, discoloration, and uneven texture look filtered and less noticeable.
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.