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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of smudge
Sophia Panych, Allure, 22 Aug. 2025
Jenna Ortega’s eyes are lightly smudged, framed by dark shadows.
—Ella Alexander, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2025
Waterproof mascara is a must for anyone who wants to avert a runny, smudge-y mess.
—Jené Luciani Sena , Caitlyn Martyn
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Verb
Deeper gunmetal hues were smudged across lids at Altuzarra (Bobbi Brown Cream Eye Shadow Stick in Stone) and Roberto Cavalli (Kiko Milano Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick in Dark Taupe and Anthracite) to create a rock-and-roll vibe.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 22 Aug. 2025
Jenna Ortega’s eyes are lightly smudged, framed by dark shadows.
—Ella Alexander, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
In the fraction of an onscreen second, limbs stretch, outlines smudge, and objects double, triple, quadruple, or more.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2025
Waterproof mascara is a must for anyone who wants to avert a runny, smudge-y mess.
—Jené Luciani Sena , Caitlyn Martyn
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudge
Verb
-
Wood filler is the best choice for repairing large, deep gouges, but usually requires staining.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Inside the retro-futuristic Discoveryland area of Disneyland Paris, a full-size Star Wars X-Wing fighter sits on a silver and blue platform which looks like it has been weathered and stained from battles.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The taint of it all has melted away.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
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The taint is caused when a chemical compound, 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA), interacts with bacteria or fungi in the wine bottle’s cork.—
Jeremy Harlan,
CNN Money,
16 July 2025
Verb
-
As more success suddenly comes his way, McKinstry has remained the same, friendly and chuckling at his locker, dirtying his jersey and pestering opponents on the field.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
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Some were prosthetic buttocks, but others were people’s own buttocks, but in various states, like dirtied down and with partial covering.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Pretreat any stains with a stain remover of choice and blot with a dry white cloth to remove as much stain prior to washing.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Wipe the area with a cloth dampened with cold water, then blot with a fresh sponge.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
High-Heat-Safe Alternatives While enameled cast-iron cookware is excellent to use for braising, roasting, baking, or gentle stovetop cooking, certain high heat applications like searing steak or blackening fish are best done in other types of pans, like traditional cast iron or stainless steel.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
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Her boyfriend had hit her hard enough to blacken her eye.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudge. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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