1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to paint
to give color or a different color to
stained the table to look like cherry
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dirty
to make dirty
oil stained his work pants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blot
a mark of guilt or disgrace
the stain of this cowardly act would haunt him for the rest of his career
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stain
Adam Crafton, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Use a broom or stiff brush and focus on high-traffic or stained areas.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Ignoring these codes can lead to water stains, discoloration or damaged fabric.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stain
Verb
Infantino’s time in power has been praised — often by FIFA itself — as a reformist presidency following the scandals and FBI investigations that stained the organization.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Use a broom or stiff brush and focus on high-traffic or stained areas.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
Scrubbing can push the stain deeper into the fibers or damage the fabric’s texture.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Ignoring these codes can lead to water stains, discoloration or damaged fabric.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stain
Verb
-
Snyder expressed concern that such automation would taint the company’s efforts to sustain its in-person customer service and fresh food.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
And yet, for years, the air has been tainted.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The plans included renderings of what the building would look like if it's painted white.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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If the office building is painted white – in a process that would degrade the granite – a visual key to understanding its architectural and political history would be lost.—
Kevin D. Murphy,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
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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
Noun
-
Spot Clean Stains For sweat stains, urine or spills, blot the area with a clean cloth and a mild cleaning solution.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The broad scenario is one in which Iran is, at best, a minor blot in the rearview mirror as America’s interests move elsewhere.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The pigment was traditionally made by grinding the female Cochineal insect.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Apr. 2026
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High octane-pigments, gemstone appliqués, and iridescent sparkle across the eyes, lips, and bridge of the nose define the contemporary trend for playful, expressive makeup.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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DeChambeau shot 76 on a day marred by a triple-bogey 7 on the 11th hole.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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Wembanyama’s injury marred what was otherwise a red-letter day for the Spurs, who cemented the franchise’s eighth 60-win season one year after posting a 34-win campaign.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Antonio Express-News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some activities aligned with a slower approach could include baking, gardening, sitting with your kids and talking or coloring rather than looking at a screen, and putting comfort first.—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
11 Apr. 2026
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Participants gave saliva samples before and after the students either colored quietly or participated in pet therapy.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The benches are blackened with age, strewn with tools.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
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Juicy, whole lobster served grilled or blackened is best, though the menu at this famous haunt features every possible iteration of the dish.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stain. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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