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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of smudge
Savannah Smith, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2024
The distinctive body is well suited for left-handed users as well as righties, but the hyper-glossy exterior is prone to smudging.
—PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Deanna Pai, Allure, 25 Sep. 2024
This waterproof mascara has a long-lasting color that resists smudges and clumps throughout the day.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smudge 
Verb
The product is free of oils and parabens, water-proof, and won’t smudge.
—Savannah Smith, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2024
The distinctive body is well suited for left-handed users as well as righties, but the hyper-glossy exterior is prone to smudging.
—PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
Unlike traditional mascaras that tend to transfer, smudge, and flake—all while calling for a tug-of-war during removal—tubing mascaras contain film-forming polymers to keep lashes separated and securely coated all day.
—Deanna Pai, Allure, 25 Sep. 2024
This waterproof mascara has a long-lasting color that resists smudges and clumps throughout the day.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudge
Verb
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In conducting the study, the team also developed a new technique to stain collagen fibers to analyze their impact on the skin’s mechanics.Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024
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This particular query came (stop it) during a recent interview with Variety where Daniel Craig asked if a shot of sheets stained with semen was kept in the final cut’s establishing scene.David Opie, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The sordid origin story of infidelity that explains Elphaba’s birth and dysfunctional family taints everything that follows.Armond White, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024
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But their chances of finding employment or a project or business to invest in remain slim, owing to their citizenship and the taint of the Russian corporate world.Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2022
Verb
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Having dirtied himself in the catacombs beneath the papacy’s home, our scrappy archaeologist emerges into none other than a resplendent re-creation of the Sistine Chapel.Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
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Arizona Republic Cool weather and the holiday season may seem like the perfect excuse to cozy up by the fire, but too many blazing yule logs can dirty the air and put some of your neighbors at risk.Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Red Wine or Dark-Colored Food Stains As quickly as possible, lift away any solids and blot, blot, blot away the moisture.Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2024
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For coffee stains on carpet, blot the spill first to soak up as much liquid as possible.Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But the task has been performed so many times that dust and metal from the robot’s fingers have blackened the edges.James Somers, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
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The fire burned for 64 days, blackening 429,603 acres in Butte and Tehama counties and destroying 709 homes and other structures.Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudge. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.
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