Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

stain

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of stain

1 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
  • Her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat.
Synonyms of stain

blemish, darken, mar, poison, spoil, taint, tarnish, touch, vitiate
Words Related to stain

begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, soil, sully, tar

abase, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame, sink

bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert
Near Antonyms of stain

cleanse, purify

dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift
2 to give color or a different color to
  • stained the table to look like cherry
Synonyms of stain

color, dye, paint, pigment, tincture, tinge, tint
Words Related to stain

brighten, lighten

darken, embrown, tone (down)

checker, dapple, daub, fleck, marble, mottle, pattern, polychrome, speck, speckle, streak, striate, stripe, variegate
Near Antonyms of stain

blanch, bleach, whiten
Antonyms of stain

decolorize
3 to make dirty
  • Oil stained his work pants.
Synonyms of stain

befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, daub, dirty, foul, grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, sully
Words Related to stain

contaminate, defile, pollute, taint

discolor

confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle
Near Antonyms of stain

decontaminate, purge, purify

disinfect, sanitize

brush, dry-clean, dust, launder, mop, rinse, scour, scrub, sweep, wash, wipe

brighten, deodorize, freshen, renew, spruce (up)

straighten (up), tidy (up)
Antonyms of stain

clean, cleanse

stain

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of stain

1 a mark of guilt or disgrace
  • The stain of this cowardly act would haunt him for the rest of his career.
Synonyms of stain

blot, brand, slur, smirch, smudge, spot, stigma, taint
Words Related to stain

discredit, disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, guilt, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame

corruption, depravity, immorality, iniquity, sin, vice
Near Antonyms of stain

award, credit, honor

chasteness, chastity, modesty, purity, stainlessness

honesty, integrity, probity, rectitude, uprightness

goodness, righteousness, virtuousness

fame
2 a substance used to color other materials
  • applied several coats of stain to the wood
Synonyms of stain

color, colorant, coloring, dye, dyestuff, pigment
Words Related to stain

tint, toner

cast, hue, shade, tinge

Learn More about stain

  1. Dictionary: Definition of stain Medical Dictionary: Definition of stain Spanish Central: Translation of stain Nglish: Translation of stain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stain for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stain

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up stain? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games