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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in paints
to give color or a different color to
stained the table to look like cherry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in smudges
to make dirty
oil stained his work pants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stains
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
This process lifts stains without increasing their surface area, which can be an issue when scrubbing by hand with a cloth or brush.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Soiled, Moldy, or Infested Items Clothing or furniture that smells of mildew, has visible stains, or has been stored in a rodent- or insect-infested environment should be discarded, never donated.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2025
But the orange-yellow stains on the lab coats slung on hooks hint at a less-usual subject matter under study.
—Sandy Ong, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
This versatile cover is available in a circular shape that ranges from 12 to 27 inches diameter to dress up basic cushions on less accommodating dining chairs or use it as pop-up seating on the lawn (no grass stains here).
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2025
On the other hand, traditional stains can lack hydration or luster—leaving lips parched and in need of a balmy top coat.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Scrub any stains with a soft sponge or brush.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
This process lifts stains without increasing their surface area, which can be an issue when scrubbing by hand with a cloth or brush.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Soiled, Moldy, or Infested Items Clothing or furniture that smells of mildew, has visible stains, or has been stored in a rodent- or insect-infested environment should be discarded, never donated.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2025
But the orange-yellow stains on the lab coats slung on hooks hint at a less-usual subject matter under study.
—Sandy Ong, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
This versatile cover is available in a circular shape that ranges from 12 to 27 inches diameter to dress up basic cushions on less accommodating dining chairs or use it as pop-up seating on the lawn (no grass stains here).
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2025
On the other hand, traditional stains can lack hydration or luster—leaving lips parched and in need of a balmy top coat.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stains
Noun
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Aveda Botanical Repair Purple Toning Shampoo keeps your color cool with purple pigments that instantly tone down yellow and orange hues.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Reduces Inflammation Beets are a concentrated source of plant pigments called betalains.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While some, perhaps most, of Spicoli’s behavior paints him as the imperfect role model, there is something to be gleaned from the surfer bro’s rebellion.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Now Blitzer’s reporting paints a vivid—and horrifying—portrait of the lives that have been upended by the Administration’s most cruel policies.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dim sunlight smudges skies for only a few hours in the depth of winter.—
Tom Vanden Brook,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, some groups think that getting artificial dyes out of the nation’s diet is not necessarily the best way to go.—
Louis Biscotti,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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The sloganeering has cajoled some of the nation’s biggest food brands to shift its offerings, curb the use of some dyes, and even redo recipes of iconic goods like Coca-Cola and day-to-day items like baby formula.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This process colors the planet’s sky permanently pink.—
Joel S. Levine,
The Conversation,
8 Sep. 2025
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And a new report from the same source suggests what colors the cases for the iPhone 17 Pro will include.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The National Alliance on Mental Health said barriers to services based on socioeconomic backgrounds, stigmas surrounding mental health and provider bias can cause inequalities in care and lead to misdiagnosis or people not receiving care at all.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
6 Sep. 2025
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Since then Baz has seemed determined to smash stigmas around pregnancy and breastfeeding.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Deadly holiday weekend mars broad crime drop The back-and-forth followed a Labor Day weekend of deadly violence in Chicago worse than in the previous two years, with seven people shot to death, according to preliminary Chicago Police Department reports.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
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Valuing a project at cost of production rather than value in an arm’s length sale—common in all economic statistics—especially mars Chinese data.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Anyone who tints or colors their hair knows all about this.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stains. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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