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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stain
Elaine Glusac, AFAR Media, 6 June 2025
Once the decay gets larger, there may be symptoms like toothaches, sharp pains when eating, visible holes in the teeth, staining on the surface of a tooth or pain when biting.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 June 2025
In footage captured during CBS Sports' broadcasts of the tournament, Bennett can be seen with a stain on his back as Scheffler carries him and chats with his wife.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stain
Verb
Photo by Barbara Smits/Shutterstock Miner’s Beach Shingleton, Michigan Sandstone cliffs stained red, blue, and brown by minerals line Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
—Elaine Glusac, AFAR Media, 6 June 2025
Once the decay gets larger, there may be symptoms like toothaches, sharp pains when eating, visible holes in the teeth, staining on the surface of a tooth or pain when biting.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
Noun
Dorai Home Dish Pad – Quick-Dry Diatomite Stone Drying Mat for Kitchen Counter
Compressed diatomaceous earth will also hold onto stains, which makes sense given the fact that its job is to absorb moisture.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 June 2025
In footage captured during CBS Sports' broadcasts of the tournament, Bennett can be seen with a stain on his back as Scheffler carries him and chats with his wife.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stain
Verb
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It’s been 17 years since tainted blood thinner from China injured or killed hundreds of people in the United States, and since then, contaminants and other defects have appeared in a cross section of America’s generic drugs.—
Brandon Roberts,
ProPublica,
17 June 2025
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The woman was unavailable for an interview with USA TODAY because she was hospitalized. Untreated, Amy said the mental health condition’s fantastical conspiracies tainted her mom's decisions.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Across Florida and throughout the United States, a dangerous narrative is gaining ground, one that paints immigrants as threats, strangers and scapegoats for every social and economic ill.—
Maria Revelles,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
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President Donald Trump has painted a bleak picture of Los Angeles since protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids broke out over the weekend.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 June 2025
Verb
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And for nights when you can't be bothered to dirty a million dishes just to get dinner on the table, there's an air fryer from Ninja.—
Sarah Felbin,
SELF,
23 May 2025
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Crème Brûlée Steve Granitz Crème brûlée is like butter blonde, but dirtied up a bit for a browned, warm tint.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Pretreat any stains with a stain remover of choice and blot with a dry white cloth to remove as much stain prior to washing.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Add a bit more color to the corners of the lips, then use your fingers to blot and blur the edges, as needed.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Her line shines especially in color—from her Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder (the shade matches here are insane) to the Colorfix multipurpose pigments, there's something for everyone.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
19 June 2025
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Watercolor paper is a special kind of paper made to absorb water and pigment without buckling or tearing apart.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
Verb
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They were marred by injuries throughout the season, having entered the season with somewhat high expectations.—
Ricardo Klein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
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Once a peaceful area for walking and cycling, it’s now marred by dilapidated vehicles, trash and environmental hazards — posing serious health and safety concerns.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 June 2025
Verb
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That bitterness colored some of Andy Pages’ reaction Monday night when the Dodgers outfielder had words for Padres right-hander Dylan Cease after he was hit with a 98 mph fastball on the left elbow guard in the fourth inning.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
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How does color, and by extension adornment, serve as a way to signal spiritual or emotional states within your work?—
Essence,
Essence,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Nearly five years after a massive fire burned California’s oldest state park, Big Basin Redwoods, blackening groves of famous ancient redwoods and destroying all the campgrounds, the visitor center and other facilities, state parks officials have finalized a plan to rebuild.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
19 June 2025
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Lightning had struck a single ponderosa pine, blackening its trunk.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stain. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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