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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to paint
to give color or a different color to
stained the table to look like cherry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stain
Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
The white oak and stained walnut variations make space for a light-blanched vibe or a woodier and more sensational approach, depending on your preference.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
This does nothing but put a further undeserved stain on the dedicated good work of most law enforcement professionals in our country and around the world.
—Laurence Miller, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stain
Verb
Chicken thighs first absorb a garlicky, peppery spice marinade stained with turmeric to accentuate the golden crust.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
The white oak and stained walnut variations make space for a light-blanched vibe or a woodier and more sensational approach, depending on your preference.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
Wipe the surface of the coat with a damp cloth to remove heavy soil or stains.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
This does nothing but put a further undeserved stain on the dedicated good work of most law enforcement professionals in our country and around the world.
—Laurence Miller, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stain
Verb
-
Viral clothes, engineered to spin the internet into days of discourse, tainted our collective sense of what was glamorous and pretty.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Just as one bite of a cookie might not happen to contain chocolate chips, one small sample of drugs might not include fentanyl even if the larger supply is tainted, the agency’s website explains.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pedro had painted the model in bright colors—red, blue, and yellow—and the circular ballet of the trio against the green jungle didn’t feel out of place; rather, the birds seemed to enjoy the homage being paid to them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Doig is an avid skier and a hockey fan, and often paints alpine scenes.—
Anna Russell,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.—
Adam Roy,
Outside,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, dip a cloth or cotton balls in acetone and blot firmly on the remaining polish.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Once the product has had a chance to soak in, blot the area with a towel dampened with water to remove any residue.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The heat can set what’s left of the polish/pigment into the fabric fibers.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
11 Jan. 2026
-
This reaction produces melanin, a brown-black pigment that's also found in humans.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The announcement comes as consumer demand for plug-in hybrids has slowed and federal support for electric powertrains has vanished, while, simultaneously, certain Stellantis 4xe vehicles have been marred by continuous recalls.—
Liam Rappleye,
Freep.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Their union was marred by affairs on both sides, perhaps most notably Charles’s ongoing affair with the former Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla).—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Roberts gave her new hair color the spotlight, wearing a simple plunging black gown with three-quarter-length sleeves.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Hassen is all for going all the way with paint or wallpaper, even going as far as to fully color drench a space, and explains that the end result will appear much more cohesive.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In all, more than 8,000 California wildfires blackened 525,223 acres, killed 31 people and burned 16,512 structures in the past year, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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While old shoes washing ashore might sound unique, this isn’t the first time that these leather shoes — well-preserved and blackened with time — have been found in the area.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stain. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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