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
Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 19 Dec. 2025
Tubing formulas are also less likely to smudge or flake, and this one never does.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 19 Dec. 2025
Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2025
To transport these sweets, place them in a container in a single layer to keep the tops picture perfect and smudge-free.
—Jessica Saari Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Verb
That painting is a lot more smudged.
—Noun
The feature here is McGrath’s LiquiLUST Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick in Elson 4, its matte finish designed to stay in place with nary a smudge.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudge
Verb
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This mixture attacks stains a bit stronger than the water solution.—
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While new doors can cost anywhere from several hundred to thousands of dollars, staining, painting, and weather stripping can be done for under $150, according to O'Reilly.—
Noun
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The taint of being part of the cheating 2017 Astros has worn off over the years, and Cubs fans are banging the drum for Bregman’s arrival, excited to have an offensive upgrade from Matt Shaw, who can still learn a lot from playing multiple positions and watching from the bench.—
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Verb
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When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.—
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Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.—
Noun
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Instead, dip a cloth or cotton balls in acetone and blot firmly on the remaining polish.—
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Once the product has had a chance to soak in, blot the area with a towel dampened with water to remove any residue.—
Verb
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In all, more than 8,000 California wildfires blackened 525,223 acres, killed 31 people and burned 16,512 structures in the past year, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.—
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While old shoes washing ashore might sound unique, this isn’t the first time that these leather shoes — well-preserved and blackened with time — have been found in the area.—
Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudge. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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