1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to paint
to give color or a different color to
stained the table to look like cherry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dirty
to make dirty
oil stained his work pants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blot
a mark of guilt or disgrace
the stain of this cowardly act would haunt him for the rest of his career
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stain
Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Quick wash is best for lightly worn clothes, not heavily soiled or stained items.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 29 May 2026
Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Dark spots can be mold, but there can also be rust in metal bottles, and just stubborn stains in plastic and glass ones.
—Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano, The Spruce, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stain
Verb
The police also found that his room, which had an inoperable heater, smelled overwhelmingly of feces, and his mattress was badly stained, while a deadbolt from outside kept him from exiting, according to the New Zealand Herald.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Quick wash is best for lightly worn clothes, not heavily soiled or stained items.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 29 May 2026
Noun
For Tottenham to get relegated would have been a stain on the careers of everyone associated with it.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Dark spots can be mold, but there can also be rust in metal bottles, and just stubborn stains in plastic and glass ones.
—Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano, The Spruce, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stain
Verb
-
Does the fact that Burden is still pretty wealthy really taint this tale of heartbreak?—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
Otherwise, journalism may be perceived as misleading the audience, prompting people to turn to other sources of information that may be tainted by self-interest rather than public interest.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
For years, radical climate activists have painted a bleak view of the future.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
As readers are now no doubt aware, the 2026 regulations have painted the sport into a bit of a corner.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One of the few blots on last summer’s Leeds copybook.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
Then, blot-dry excess moisture with clean paper towels or extract with a wet/dry vacuum.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
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
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That focus on locality becomes evident in artisanal details, pigment choices and natural fibers such as regenerative cotton grown through programs supported by denim mills.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
But six years after NASA certified SpaceX to ferry crews to and from the ISS, Boeing’s Starliner still lacks approval for regular crew rotation flights after a 2024 test flight was marred by technical issues.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
-
In Strasbourg, groups of Palace supporters clashed among themselves in a square in the city centre, marring the occasion.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
In the restaurant, there is no dedicated children’s menu but meal requests can be made, and there are coloring books and activity packs to keep little ones amused.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Now iconic green, the statue was copper-colored for around 30 years until the metal had oxidized.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Inside, boards blackened by smoke and sweat, the air sweet with cane and forgetting.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Sepsis had left his skin peeling and his body blackened, including parts of his fingers, ears, lips and lower legs.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stain. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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