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
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 stains
Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Will homemade detergent work on tough stains?
—Ryan Brennan
may 13, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
If there are areas of the bowl that have more stains, add a touch more of baking soda to them to try and lift them out.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Return to any areas around weep holes, seams, or wall openings to spot clean stains.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
Say goodbye to armpit sweat marks and stains.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
Starch creates a protective coating on fabric, helping garments hold their shape, resist dirt and stains, and stay wrinkle-free.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
Photos showed large, blue stains on the counter and floor, indicating blood had been cleaned from those areas.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Feb. 2026
This mixture attacks stains a bit stronger than the water solution.
—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
While brown stains give off more of a traditional look, a charcoal gray or black stain provides a sleek, modern look on a horizontal fence.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Will homemade detergent work on tough stains?
—Ryan Brennan
may 13, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
If there are areas of the bowl that have more stains, add a touch more of baking soda to them to try and lift them out.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Return to any areas around weep holes, seams, or wall openings to spot clean stains.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
Say goodbye to armpit sweat marks and stains.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
Starch creates a protective coating on fabric, helping garments hold their shape, resist dirt and stains, and stay wrinkle-free.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
Photos showed large, blue stains on the counter and floor, indicating blood had been cleaned from those areas.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Verb
What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.
—Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Feb. 2026
This mixture attacks stains a bit stronger than the water solution.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stains
Noun
-
The songs spread outward from Morris’ small voice like paper towel blots.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Goldschmied exits Daily Blue to launch Goldie, another woman’s jeans brands characterized by innovative production techniques like the use of pigments and garment dyeing.—
Maria Cristina Pavarini,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
-
Those doctors say the severity of workers' disease suggests that it's caused by exposure to toxic ingredients in addition to silica, like pigments or resins.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
-
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.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The second scenario paints a more concerning picture.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
-
But, the sentiment on social media, particularly from Rebels fans, paints a different, less rosy picture.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 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
Noun
-
Once again, Reuben can jumpstart dialogue and break down stigmas through her work.—
Cristina Velocci,
Flow Space,
11 May 2026
-
When tetraploid and diploid plants are crossed, pollen from the diploids is brushed onto the stigmas of the tetraploids.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Kool-Aid Hydration does not use artificial dyes, as part of Kraft Heinz’s broader pledge to phase out synthetic colors by the end of 2027.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
-
His tenure was filled with the announcement of dozens of new and ambitious initiatives, including efforts to shorten drug review timelines, crack down on misleading ads, and pressure the food industry to remove chemical dyes.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
And two, baking soda is an indiscriminate weed killer that poisons the soil.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stains. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
