as in to stain
to make dirty
she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of smudge
Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Jan. 2025
Sometimes they’ve been torn, smudged, folded or dog-eared.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
India Espy-Jones, Essence, 10 Dec. 2024
Christmas trees, pruned and stacked and ready to fill American homes with a once-a-year smudge of green and the scent of fresh pine needles.
—Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smudge 
Verb
Next, smudge a warm brown or gray eye shadow along the upper lash line.
—Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Jan. 2025
Sometimes they’ve been torn, smudged, folded or dog-eared.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
The five smudge shades are named after punk music culture.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 10 Dec. 2024
Christmas trees, pruned and stacked and ready to fill American homes with a once-a-year smudge of green and the scent of fresh pine needles.
—Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudge
Verb
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Or maybe your seat cushions are sunken in or stained.—
Louryn Strampe,
WIRED,
14 Feb. 2025
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In her home design YouTube videos, Gater frequently makes over second-hand items like hutches, tables, and cabinets by adding coats of paint or stain and replacing the hardware.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Such stories also give permission to new forms, while protecting designs from too strong a taint of faddishness, or of strenuous icon-making.—
Ian Parker,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
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While Weiss had rejected any taint of politics in his approach, the investigation was the subject of much congressional scrutiny.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Grease dirtied the handles of the ovens, the microwave ovens and the coolers.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2025
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Instead of dirtying a larger pot for your supporting dishes, this quaint cooker will come in handy for quick (or slower simmering) concoctions while matching your kitchen atmosphere.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Yes, last year ended in failure, regardless of the points tally, and that is an understandable blot on Farke’s copybook.—
Beren Cross,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
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To eradicate pet stains from most surfaces, blot or wipe as much as possible with a clean, dry cloth.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The brush fire blackened about 100 square feet before being extinguished by firefighters, deputies said in the news release.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacramento Bee,
5 Feb. 2025
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In Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Malibu, history burned and blackened the sky.—
Alex Ross,
The New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudge. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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