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
Tory Johnson, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Our editors tested over a dozen shower cleaners to find the ones that are most effective at removing soap scum and water stains.
—Josh Feldman, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Once color became a wartime concern, everything colorful — paints, stains, glass coatings, metal coatings, dyes, enamels — needed to be color coordinated on a national scale.
—Kory Stamper, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Any accidental stains on the skin can be wiped off easily.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
Each pad features scrubbing strips that work hard to remove grime and stains and, when combined with a premixed solution, thoroughly clean floors.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Dry and buff the surface to prevent streaks and water stains.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2026
This lightweight, portable carpet and upholstery cleaner can spray, scrub and lift even the most stubborn stains from your home’s soft surfaces.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Tests done after the trial, when the men were appealing their convictions, showed the stains were not blood.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Feb. 2026
This mixture attacks stains a bit stronger than the water solution.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
Season with salt and lots of pepper and bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking often, until the turmeric stains the mixture a wonderful golden color and the liquid starts to steam, about 3 minutes.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
Blood still regularly stains the floors of the Coliseum’s rings.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
Designed with convenience and your busy lifestyle in mind, MY MAGIC CARPET rugs protect floors from scratches, spills and stains.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Our editors tested over a dozen shower cleaners to find the ones that are most effective at removing soap scum and water stains.
—Josh Feldman, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Once color became a wartime concern, everything colorful — paints, stains, glass coatings, metal coatings, dyes, enamels — needed to be color coordinated on a national scale.
—Kory Stamper, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Any accidental stains on the skin can be wiped off easily.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
Each pad features scrubbing strips that work hard to remove grime and stains and, when combined with a premixed solution, thoroughly clean floors.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Dry and buff the surface to prevent streaks and water stains.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2026
This lightweight, portable carpet and upholstery cleaner can spray, scrub and lift even the most stubborn stains from your home’s soft surfaces.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Tests done after the trial, when the men were appealing their convictions, showed the stains were not blood.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Feb. 2026
This mixture attacks stains a bit stronger than the water solution.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
Season with salt and lots of pepper and bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking often, until the turmeric stains the mixture a wonderful golden color and the liquid starts to steam, about 3 minutes.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
Blood still regularly stains the floors of the Coliseum’s rings.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stains
Noun
-
While the original offered 55, the reformulation includes a whopping 70 options—across fair to deep complexions, then cool, neutral, warm, and olive undertones—made with enhanced pigments for a more dimensional finish.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The anthocyanin pigments that predominate in dark leaves also protect them from UV damage and, due to their toxicity when highly concentrated, deter herbivores.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The film centered on the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The study’s findings are in line with existing research that paints a grim picture of the statewide housing crisis, said Carolina Reid, an associate professor of city and regional planning at UC Berkeley.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The official police and legal record, on the other hand, paints a much more damning picture of Bolsonaro’s participation in a coup plot.—
Anthony W. Pereira,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cleaning dirt and smudges off window glass helps sunlight penetrate into your home and will boost the amount of light that’s available to your houseplants.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Dim sunlight smudges skies for only a few hours in the depth of winter.—
Tom Vanden Brook,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The organization helps empower students to lobby college administrators for their needs, including expanding mental health services and improving messages to counter the lasting stigmas of seeking help.—
Suzette Hackney,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Furthermore, and as part of its IWD initiatives, the Alo Foundation is supporting The Mental Health Coalition to reach millions of women with accessible and proven mental health resources alongside educational content to help reduce mental stigmas.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, has made headlines in the past few years for authoring bills that have cracked down on sweets with synthetic dyes like Skittles and instituted a timeline for getting healthier food in public schools.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Vanicream has built its reputation on formulas that strip out many of the ingredients most likely to cause reactions—things like fragrance, dyes, lanolin, parabens, and formaldehyde releasers.—
Hana Hong,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sensing Scarlet’s resolve to destroy him, Claudius poisons her.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The foliage shifts colors with the seasons, emerging bright red in spring then taking on a deep green hue during the summer months before shifting to burgundy in fall and winter.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Musicians live really complicated lives — performing late at night, for instance, colors your day-to-day existence.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stains. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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