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
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Recent Examples of smudge
Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 7 Feb. 2025
The Contour Stylus lives in a thin component designed to be used as a crayon would be—scribbled on and smudged in with fingers or bristles.
—Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Feb. 2025
The only smudge on an otherwise record-setting year came when the confetti fell at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh and Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., as the Toros watched their opponents celebrated winning NCAA Division II national titles.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Verb
This pick also stays put without smudging for up to 24 hours.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 7 Feb. 2025
The Contour Stylus lives in a thin component designed to be used as a crayon would be—scribbled on and smudged in with fingers or bristles.
—Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
How to Deep Clean the Exterior of a Slow Cooker
To clean the exterior of a slow cooker, use a damp microfiber cloth and a pea-sized drop of dish soap to wipe away stuck-on food, drips, or smudges.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Feb. 2025
The only smudge on an otherwise record-setting year came when the confetti fell at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh and Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., as the Toros watched their opponents celebrated winning NCAA Division II national titles.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudge
Verb
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Then, once completed, pasting begins, where mud from the henna plant is placed atop the area to stain.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
22 May 2025
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Plus, the matte, two-tone color scheme helps resist staining, maintaining the spoons' stylish appeal over time.—
Toby Rose,
Parents,
22 May 2025
Noun
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In his podcast on The Daily Wire this week, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro cited the taint of the jet deal and called on his listeners to honestly consider its implications.—
Howard LaFranchi,
Christian Science Monitor,
15 May 2025
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Chapter 7 Delaware Bay Water that Americans rely on for drinking and irrigation under threat from taint of saltwater Between New Jersey and Delaware, the river gives way to the Delaware Bay, where the water is salty.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Crème Brûlée Steve Granitz Crème brûlée is like butter blonde, but dirtied up a bit for a browned, warm tint.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
2 May 2025
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He’s come through with timely hits, dirtied his uniform on the bases and made an impact with his arm in the outfield.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That brings us to that one blot on Wodehouse’s life.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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The ink blots of the past 20 years are dried all over Metal Gear Solid Delta.—
Ashley Bardhan,
Rolling Stone,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Some of the jewel beetle wings had their original green-yellow-red hues while others had blackened.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
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If a vigorous plant begins to blacken at the top or whole branches are dying back, this is a sign that something is wrong.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudge. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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