as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
corruption charges that were a smirch on her reputation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to stain
to make dirty
their clothes were smirched by dust from the trail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
this scandal will forever smirch the name of a once-great family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirch
Noun
-
The Italian suede can be wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth, and Quince recommends spot-cleaning spills or stains.—
Rachel Trujillo,
People.com,
27 Aug. 2025 -
For minor stains, a quick wipe down with dish soap and water usually does the trick.—
Melissa Maria,
Architectural Digest,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Rodriguez said Swift and Kelce ordered the pan-seared, blackened Mahi-Mahi ($45), served with lobster risotto, julienned vegetables and red pepper sauce.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Each footstep sent up clouds of dust and ash, coating everything, including my mouth and teeth, in fine grit, blackening my snot and saliva.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Plato fled Syracuse, humiliated by the tyrants’ taunts.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Critics, including Lithuania's former foreign minister, warned the episode reflects Moscow's intent to provoke and humiliate its adversaries on the global stage.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The taint is caused when a chemical compound, 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA), interacts with bacteria or fungi in the wine bottle’s cork.—
Jeremy Harlan,
CNN Money,
16 July 2025
-
Some argued that, given the presumptive unethical taint of such collections, human remains should be buried or otherwise respectfully disposed of.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
As more success suddenly comes his way, McKinstry has remained the same, friendly and chuckling at his locker, dirtying his jersey and pestering opponents on the field.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Some were prosthetic buttocks, but others were people’s own buttocks, but in various states, like dirtied down and with partial covering.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 July 2025
Verb
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But the Newsom administration has tried to discredit that estimate since the independent auditor published the report last week.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Right-wing Channel 14 has devoted coverage in recent weeks to discrediting some reports of starving children.—
Emily Rose,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
To minimize damage, gently blot (rather than rub) with a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt to absorb excess water.—
Angela Trakoshis,
Allure,
11 July 2025
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For deep cleaning, use hydrogen peroxide for tough spots and clean the sweatband gently with a soft brush, then blot and air dry in a cool, dark place.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
The rules around grand jury secrecy shouldn’t be broken and care must be taken about revealing the identities of victims and besmirching the reputations of people mentioned incidentally in the vast investigative materials.—
The Editors,
National Review,
16 July 2025
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The Confederate flag was carried through its premises, the flag of an old attack on this country and its (often jettisoned and besmirched but still significant) ideals of equality.—
Rebecca Solnit
January 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Jan. 2021
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Cite this Entry
“Smirch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirch. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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