1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to paint
to give color or a different color to
stained the table to look like cherry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dirty
to make dirty
oil stained his work pants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blot
a mark of guilt or disgrace
the stain of this cowardly act would haunt him for the rest of his career
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stain
Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 23 Jan. 2025
Also, there’s something uniquely humbling about catching your gaze in the mirror after what felt like a great conversation with a potential professional connection, only to realize your teeth and mouth are stained purple from that glass of wine in your hand.
—Jess Cording, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2025
The best way to treat common carpet stains: Step by step
What’s the best way to clean pet stains from carpet?
—Jennifer Beck Goldblatt, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stain 
Verb
As Shilpa notes though, the plastic has a tendency to stain, especially when slicing carrots or beets.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 23 Jan. 2025
Also, there’s something uniquely humbling about catching your gaze in the mirror after what felt like a great conversation with a potential professional connection, only to realize your teeth and mouth are stained purple from that glass of wine in your hand.
—Jess Cording, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
This mat also held up to pet stains—after tossing it in the wash, there was no change in appearance or texture.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2025
The best way to treat common carpet stains: Step by step
What’s the best way to clean pet stains from carpet?
—Jennifer Beck Goldblatt, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stain
Verb
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In a 2021 study in the Journal of Urban Health, researchers surveyed adult residents of Flint, Michigan, where the water was known to have been tainted with lead.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The goal is not to taint your hard work with someone whose values are the polar opposite to yours.—
Goro Gupta,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The vintage industrial interior has been painted a vivid vermilion, marine memorabilia hangs on the walls and those photos of fishing boats and crews — those are owner John Schnaubelt’s family.—
John Metcalfe,
The Mercury News,
3 Feb. 2025
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Trump’s outsize presence in this scene is incarnated by the Trump International Hotel and Tower, which Fassler boldly painted in shades of black and blue.—
Mara Hoberman,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of dirtying a larger pot for your supporting dishes, this quaint cooker will come in handy for quick (or slower simmering) concoctions while matching your kitchen atmosphere.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2025
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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
Noun
-
Unfair to ex-felons One of the worst blots on Bondi’s résumé was one of her first acts as attorney general.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Jan. 2025
-
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
Noun
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But that light is also absorbed by melanin, or pigment, in the skin.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC News,
19 Jan. 2025
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Certified colors are usually synthetic dyes and pigments, and they're required to undergo a chemical analysis and batch certification before they're approved.—
Sydney Wingfield,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Harding’s career was notably marred by her connection to the 1994 attack on her rival, Nancy Kerrigan, which was plotted by Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly.—
Paulina Dedaj,
Fox News,
30 Jan. 2025
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His legacy is marred by corruption, from lawsuits alleging racial discrimination to allegations of misusing public funds.—
Esteban Rodriguez,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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All the characters’ interactions are colored by the fact that some voted to leave while others voted to stay — or at least waited to leave until the cash (and bodies) piled up.—
Meredith Blake,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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Who knows whether the campaign trail will resume, or how much the ceremony will be colored by catastrophe.—
Michael Schulman,
The New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The charred footprint of the Eaton fire, which blackened more than 14,000 acres, is the most worrisome.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2025
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In one corner, fires from ancient rituals had left the limestone ceiling blackened by soot.—
Gina DeCaprio Vercesi,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Stain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stain. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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