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
Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Additional Tips Avoid using hairspray to clean nail polish stains.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
Ideally, paint, stains, and other chemicals should always be stored in a warm, dry location out of direct sunlight.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
A little more than an hour after the game ended, an equipment staff member handed Goedert’s jersey, complete with grass stains on the eagle shoulder patch, to The Realest.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
For tougher stains or buildup, mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
How to Clean Baking Sheets With Vinegar Vinegar is an acidic ingredient that can cut through grease and lift stains.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 11 Jan. 2026
Infested trees often display thinning canopies and black or red stains on the trunk.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Leaks, ceiling stains or granules in gutters may signal damaged or missing asphalt shingles.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Nov. 2025
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
Snag it in black, white, green, blue, or maple or walnut wood stains in sizes ranging from 4 by 4 inches to 8 by 10 inches.
—Verb
This mixture attacks stains a bit stronger than the water solution.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for stains
Noun
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Designed to work across a wide range of skin tones, the translucent pigments deliver a soft-focus glow while ingredients like arnica flower extract help calm puffiness, squalene replenishes hydration, and caffeine tightens and depuffs.—
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Her sustainable sequins — compostable, non-toxic, derived from agricultural waste and natural pigments — are both the smallest objects in the room and the reason for the room's existence.—
Verb
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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.—
Verb
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Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley paints a vivid portrait of two complex, ambitious women trying to find their place in an uncertain time.—
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The report paints a vivid demographic profile of this group.—
Verb
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Dim sunlight smudges skies for only a few hours in the depth of winter.—
Noun
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Wight says that this process can be done using a small Q-tip to transfer pollen from the anthers to the stigmas.—
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Many japonica camellias, in the manner of other botanical hybrids, are sterile with their yellow, thread-like stamens and stigmas either absent or invisible.—
Noun
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For example, food manufacturers agreed to phase out eight synthetic dyes by the end of 2026.—
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Food dyes and Tylenol are red herrings.—
Verb
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General Daily Insight for January 04, 2026 Warm confidence colors our choices and conversations.—
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That just colors everything so differently.—
Verb
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The picture exudes both grace and vulnerability, and hints at imperfection by way of a disconcerting, coral-like wrinkle that mars the foot’s heel.—
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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.—
Cite this Entry
“Stains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stains. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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