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
• dirties
• blackens
• messes
• soils
• besmirches
• daubs
• sullies
• mucks
• distains
• smirches
• muddies
• mires
• grimes
• contaminates
• befouls
• gaums
• fouls
• discolors
• begrimes
• taints
• pollutes
• bemires
• 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

And some tree fruits, such as mulberries and cherries, can leave stains on siding, roofs, and decks that are difficult to remove. — Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026

Remove Mold Stains From Painted Walls Kill mold spores and lighten moldy stains by spraying the area with undiluted hydrogen peroxide. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 July 2026

Identify any stains and pre-soak them in an enzyme stain remover. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026

Try Bleach Though controversial, using the right kind of bleach (the one that's safe for colors and dyes) can be incredibly effective at removing red wine stains. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 13 July 2026

Orkin recommends inspecting hotel rooms before unpacking by checking mattresses and furniture for live bugs, shed skins, tiny eggs or dark, ink-like stains. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Online photos from the home’s listing posted on the Good Neighbors Investors website in 2024 show dark stains and mold across the walls and floor of the home. — Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026

The sheets had grease stains, hair and what looked like suspicious red stains. — Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 6 July 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