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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in paints
to give color or a different color to
stained the table to look like cherry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in smudges
to make dirty
oil stained his work pants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stains
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
To wash a pet’s bed, vacuum it first to pick up fur, then spot-treat any stains before laundering it according to the care tag instructions.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2026
Drying times vary by product, so check the manufacturer's directions, though most stains will dry to the touch in a couple of hours.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 2 June 2026
Pet stains are no match for this convenient portable carpet cleaner.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
For tougher stains, leaving the mixture on longer, or overnight, can help.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026
According to the affidavit, the children were asked to get dressed, and both came back wearing dirty clothes covered in food stains.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Before any storm is on the radar, photograph the entire roof system from the ground, capture close-ups of shingles, flashings, vents and gutters, and check the attic interior for any pre-existing stains or moisture.
—David Nye, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
Lindsay is very real for worrying about her pit stains.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 27 May 2026
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
Noun
Use a baking soda paste to help with stubborn stains.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
To wash a pet’s bed, vacuum it first to pick up fur, then spot-treat any stains before laundering it according to the care tag instructions.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2026
Drying times vary by product, so check the manufacturer's directions, though most stains will dry to the touch in a couple of hours.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 2 June 2026
Pet stains are no match for this convenient portable carpet cleaner.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
For tougher stains, leaving the mixture on longer, or overnight, can help.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026
According to the affidavit, the children were asked to get dressed, and both came back wearing dirty clothes covered in food stains.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Before any storm is on the radar, photograph the entire roof system from the ground, capture close-ups of shingles, flashings, vents and gutters, and check the attic interior for any pre-existing stains or moisture.
—David Nye, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
Lindsay is very real for worrying about her pit stains.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 27 May 2026
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stains
Noun
-
One of the few blots on last summer’s Leeds copybook.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
The songs spread outward from Morris’ small voice like paper towel blots.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Since blue pigments were very expensive during the Renaissance, the color was reserved for important figures, particularly paintings of Mary.—
Bridget Retzloff,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
-
And a third suggests that physical effects on retinal pigments enable birds to detect photons and send signals to the brain, although this mechanism is really only viable in the light.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The film centered on the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
All of which paints a friendly picture for a presumptive owner, which could make Sacramento a turnkey operation if given the go-ahead from Major League Baseball.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
-
Jill's memoir, however, paints a much more honest picture of Joe's concern regarding his poor performance.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Cleaning dirt and smudges off window glass helps sunlight penetrate into your home and will boost the amount of light that’s available to your houseplants.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Dim sunlight smudges skies for only a few hours in the depth of winter.—
Tom Vanden Brook,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Social-media platforms are filled with short-form videos that clumsily grapple with stigmas surrounding height supremacy.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
-
Despite the mountain of research supporting these interventions, stigmas and biases remain.—
Karen R. Studer,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The survey also found majority support in all parties for government interventions including testing additives for safety before they can be included in food products, banning artificial dyes, requiring warning labels, and ordering companies to reduce the amount of sugar and salt in their foods.—
Sarah Todd,
STAT,
3 June 2026
-
Film does too, through chemistry, exposure, dyes and paper.—
Douglas Goodwin,
The Conversation,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
And two, baking soda is an indiscriminate weed killer that poisons the soil.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stains. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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