as in stains
a mark of guilt or disgrace
the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in blackens
to make dirty
she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of smudges
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
2 July 2026
There are faint smudges of pastel crayon on the wall and carved profanities with paint chips revealing the previous cerulean walls.
—
Ashley Andreou,
STAT,
22 June 2026
This will help buff it in and prevent streaks and smudges.
—
Deanna Pai,
Glamour,
6 June 2026
The headphones didn’t feel noticeably heavier than their predecessor during our extended test run and were less prone to fingerprints and smudges.
—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
19 May 2026
For the British Crown, such frontiers were smudges on the edge of the map.
—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
That extra step helps remove streaks, smudges, and dullness, especially on surfaces that catch the light.
—
Colleen Sullivan,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
Glass patio doors are one of the best features a home can have — until they’re covered in smudges, water spots and a thin film of grime that makes the outdoors look overcast even on a sunny day.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Sunlight reveals streaks and smudges that are invisible under indoor lighting, so step outside or look at the glass from the patio side before calling the job done.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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
But the writer-director smudges the lines separating an ancient evil from a sordid but disappointingly non-supernatural crime.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
There’s nothing more frustrating than spending time cleaning glass surfaces only to end up with streaks, smudges, or cloudy residue.
—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
2 July 2026
There are faint smudges of pastel crayon on the wall and carved profanities with paint chips revealing the previous cerulean walls.
—
Ashley Andreou,
STAT,
22 June 2026
This will help buff it in and prevent streaks and smudges.
—
Deanna Pai,
Glamour,
6 June 2026
The headphones didn’t feel noticeably heavier than their predecessor during our extended test run and were less prone to fingerprints and smudges.
—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
19 May 2026
For the British Crown, such frontiers were smudges on the edge of the map.
—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
That extra step helps remove streaks, smudges, and dullness, especially on surfaces that catch the light.
—
Colleen Sullivan,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
Glass patio doors are one of the best features a home can have — until they’re covered in smudges, water spots and a thin film of grime that makes the outdoors look overcast even on a sunny day.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Sunlight reveals streaks and smudges that are invisible under indoor lighting, so step outside or look at the glass from the patio side before calling the job done.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 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
But the writer-director smudges the lines separating an ancient evil from a sordid but disappointingly non-supernatural crime.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smudges
Noun
-
Using a fabric rinse instead of detergent can also break down stubborn deodorant stains.
-
Furniture bears scratches, repairs, and stains that remind us that somebody was here before.
Verb
-
As the salmon blackens in a skillet, the spices awaken, encrusting the fish in peppery piquant.
Noun
-
Dabbing the cloth in rubbing alcohol, working away the dirty blots on the glass, waiting for the haze in my head to focus, and a new line to come to me.
-
One of the few blots on last summer’s Leeds copybook.
Cite this Entry
“Smudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudges. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
