Synonyms of stains

stains 1 of 2

noun

plural of stain

1

as in blots

a mark of guilt or disgrace

the stain of this cowardly act would haunt him for the rest of his career

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blots
• taints
• stigmas
• smudges
• guilts
• shames
• brands
• slurs
• spots
• disgraces
• smirches
• sins
• onuses
• corruptions
• infamies
• ignominies
• discredit
• black eyes
• depravities
• reproaches
• iniquities
• immoralities
• vices
• debaucheries
• obloquies
• dishonors
• odiums
• disreputes
• opprobriums
• disesteems

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• awards
• honors
• purities
• credits
• goods
• rights
• chastities
• glories
• modesties
• fames
• reputes
• integrities
• renowns
• probities
• rectitudes
• honesties
• legitimacies

2

as in pigments

a substance used to color other materials

applied several coats of stain to the wood

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pigments
• dyes
• colors
• colorants
• colorings
• dyestuffs
• hues
• tints
• shades
• toners
• tinges
• casts

stains

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stain

1

as in taints

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable

her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• taints
• poisons
• mars
• spoils
• darkens
• touches
• smears
• tarnishes
• blemishes
• smudges
• vitiates
• discolors
• soils
• blackens
• degrades
• lowers
• discredits
• distorts
• blurs
• dirties
• corrupts
• clouds
• tars
• pollutes
• disgraces
• colors
• sullies
• perverts
• shames
• sinks
• dishonors
• smuts
• besmirches
• abases
• besmears
• debauches
• twists
• fouls
• smirches
• demeans
• debases
• subverts
• begrimes
• cheapens
• demoralizes
• depraves
• bastardizes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleanses
• purifies
• elevates
• magnifies
• uplifts
• ennobles
• glorifies
• enshrines
• dignifies
• hallows

2

as in paints

to give color or a different color to

stained the table to look like cherry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• paints
• colors
• tints
• dyes
• pigments
• brightens
• tinges
• tinctures
• stripes
• darkens
• bepaints
• streaks
• flecks
• lightens
• specks
• patterns
• speckles
• tones (down)
• mottles
• dapples
• marbles
• striates
• variegates
• daubs
• embrowns
• checkers
• polychromes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bleaches
• whitens
• decolorizes
• blanches

3

as in smudges

to make dirty

oil stained his work pants

Synonyms & Similar Words

• smudges
• blackens
• dirties
• messes
• soils
• besmirches
• daubs
• sullies
• mucks
• distains
• smirches
• mires
• muddies
• grimes
• contaminates
• befouls
• gaums
• fouls
• discolors
• begrimes
• taints
• bemires
• pollutes
• disorders
• defiles
• disarranges
• draggles
• jumbles
• muddles
• crocks
• confuses
• dishevels
• disarrays
• collies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleans
• cleanses
• wipes
• purifies
• purges
• washes
• brushes
• dusts
• rinses
• disinfects
• sweeps
• mops
• decontaminates
• scrubs
• sanitizes
• scours
• launders
• brightens
• deodorizes
• freshens
• renews
• straightens (up)
• spruces (up)
• dry-cleans
• tidies (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stains

Noun

More specifically, 55 percent of ready-to-wear consumers note their frustrations with sweat stains. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026

The most common culprits for grout stains are spills, cleaning residue, and mold/mildew buildup. — Abid Haque, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026

Roman fullers, or launderers, soaked dirty clothes in the urine collected from public toilets and stomped on them until the stains were removed. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026

Different stains call for different treatments, and one of the most useful fixes may already be in your pantry. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2026

Silicone is also notorious for holding on to stains and smells, but that's a fundamental problem with the material, and not unique to these containers. — Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026

In the busiest area of the house, your toilet may need daily attention to clean stains and messes. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026

While the worst issues were discovered at the Sleep Inn, site visits at the Holiday Inn and Fairfield Inn also revealed water stains, humid laundry facilities and signs of pests. — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Its acidity will do the hard work of dissolving soap scum and hard water stains, and save you the time and effort of tough scrubbing. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 9 Aug. 2026

Verb

The self-tan wipes are easy to apply and contain exfoliating acids that smooth the skin, plus encapsulated DHA (the ingredient that stains the skin) to leave behind a radiant tan. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 13 Aug. 2026

Homemade plum compote stains the filling with a vibrant red ribbon. — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026

When that protective finish gets damaged, the toilet actually stains easier and is harder to keep clean over time. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 24 May 2026

What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury. — Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026

Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform. — Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026

The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Feb. 2026

Season with salt and lots of pepper and bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking often, until the turmeric stains the mixture a wonderful golden color and the liquid starts to steam, about 3 minutes. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025

Blood still regularly stains the floors of the Coliseum’s rings. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025