stain 1 of 2

verb

ˈstān How to pronounce stain (audio)
Definition of stainnext
1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stain

2 of 2

noun

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
2
as in pigment
a substance used to color other materials applied several coats of stain to the wood

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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 stain
Verb
If staining does not diminish, apply a baking soda paste and scrub. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 Dressing up for warmer weather can be a challenge since plush fabrics like silk can easily stain and aren’t as breathable. — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026
Noun
Removing Fingerprints on Stainless Steel Use club soda to clean fingerprints and stains from stainless steel appliances and countertops. — Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 7 July 2026 Simply applying a couple of coats of stain can safeguard your deck for years to come, but this doesn't mean that the stain will last forever. — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stain
  1. taint
  2. paint
  3. dirty
  4. blot
  5. pigment
  6. mar
  7. color
  8. blacken
Verb
  • Attorneys for the owners of the landfill, which stopped accepting trash last year, claimed this spring in the litigation that the lawsuits may be tainted by fraud.
    — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • For all intents and purposes, an unknown actor can wade unburdened into the depths of Bond, able to transform without a viewer’s prior expectation tainting the image of 007.
    — Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
Definition of taint
Verb
  • It's painted blue and white, and has a small deck area at the front that folds up for easy transport.
    — Adam Williams July 10, New Atlas, 10 July 2026
  • In a campaign statement, Holscher said she’s being painted as an extremist for standing up for everyday people.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
Definition of paint
Verb
  • The spoon even comes with measuring lines for a teaspoon and tablespoon, saving you from having to dirty another utensil.
    — Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
  • The zipper shoe compartment keeps your shoes from dirtying up your clothing, and the massive interior can hold many outfits for your weekend getaway.
    — Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of dirty
Noun
  • The only blot on an otherwise solid opening week for the World Cup expansion loyalists.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Let the cleaner sit for 15 minutes and blot the excess, or cover it with a damp cloth and leave it for up to 24 hours for heavily soiled or old, set-in spots.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
Definition of blot
Noun
  • White cats get their color from a lack of pigment in their fur.
    — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • The viscosity is relatively thicker, which is necessary to keep the pigment from running or becoming patchy.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 4 July 2026
Definition of pigment
Verb
  • While Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman delivered standout performances, Christian Pulisic's tournament was marred by injuries and a lack of goals.
    — Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Especially the guy who bangs a wrecking ball against the historic East Wing to make room for an incongruous ballroom monstrosity, who mars the sacred Oval Office with gold glitter and paves over the lovely Rose Garden.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of mar
Verb
  • Moreover, the shock of higher prices is still fresh in people's minds and may be coloring consumers' purchasing decisions, despite signs that prices should retreat further.
    — Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 July 2026
  • But the art director says there’s more to aquamarine than simply color.
    — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026
Definition of color
Verb
  • Check monthly for signs of shriveling (add moisture), blackening or softening (discard).
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
  • Many of them, like Tubbs, were refugee Midwesterners, sick of parching droughts and devouring plagues of locusts, the insects descending in buzzing clouds thick enough to blacken the noonday sun.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
Definition of blacken

Browse Nearby Words

staidness
stain
stained
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Cite this Entry

“Stain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stain. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stain

Nglish: Translation of stain for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stain

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