SOOT Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

soot

noun

Definition of soot

as in grime

a black powder that is formed when something (such as wood or coal) is burned

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of soot People’s handkerchiefs would come away from their foreheads stained with soot. — Daliah Singer, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026 It was covered in ash, as if it had been washed, dried, then purposely covered in soot. — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026 One, that it was made not just of ash and soot, but of metal, glass and concrete; and two, that soon this shrapnel would be whizzing by — and perhaps through — my head. — Timothy Townsend, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 Keith’s red helmet, still covered in soot, and a photograph of him grinning, sit proudly on display. — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soot

Recent Examples of Synonyms for soot

Noun

Many glass cleaners use ammonia to cut through grease and grime, but instead of leaving your appliances polished and shiny, the pungent solution can actually leave a streaky, cloudy sheen on stainless steel.

— Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 28 Sep. 2026
How Washing Machine Seals Collect Grime A washing machine door seal is a prime spot for grime to accumulate because the seal’s tight folds trap hair, lint, and other debris.

— Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of grime

Noun

Too many rodents, too much filth and too little sanitizer led inspectors to shut down a Miami ramen restaurant for a couple of days last week.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
In true Joycean fashion, Ironweed wants both symbolism and naturalism, the elevated language of heaven’s vaults alongside the unadorned details of bodily filth.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of filth

Noun

Introduced crawling through the Trask family’s field, her black blood spattering their rich soil like a human pesticide, Cathy personifies the series’ potent blend of dread and beauty.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2026
During dry periods, soil-dwelling bacteria produce a compound called geosmin that deters insects such as fruit flies.

— Gregory Wakeman, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of soil

Noun

These crocks and trays can be kept out on the counter for easy access while finishing off a sizzling steak in the skillet or stored in the fridge for firmer sticks.

— Clara Hillis, Architectural Digest, 18 Aug. 2026
What To Store On Your Counter Utensil Crock Keep a utensil crock next to your cooktop for making meal prep a breeze.

— Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 31 July 2026

Definition of crock

Noun

Even great books can acquire dust on the shelf; an infusion of feeling helps keep them alive.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
The poorer the air being inhaled by children in Hackney, the more regularly the dust was agitated and the thicker the storm and richer the color inside the box.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of dust

Noun

The questions of who and why are a mystery for the season to solve, but old adversaries like Frank Harkness and Peter Judd have emerged from the sludge around now, too, and there’s an overwhelming sense now of chickens coming home to roost.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
The United States is losing to one of its worst enemies in a war that has left the American economy mired in the sludge of growing inflation and rising energy prices.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of sludge

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“Soot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soot. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of soot

noun

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