smudges 1 of 2

noun

plural of smudge
as in stains
a mark of guilt or disgrace the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal

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smudges

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of smudge
as in blackens
to make dirty she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick

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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
Noun
Unless there are fingerprints or visible smudges cleaning them every two to four weeks is usually enough. — Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 21 Aug. 2026 The phone has a fingerprint-resistant finish, which is a relief for anyone who can't stand smudges. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026 No matter what color or finish is in during a particular season, true high-net-worth nails will always be centered on cared-for cuticles, immaculate polish placement (no smudges, chips, or flooding), and minimalist or neutral designs. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026 Be sure to clean up smudges with a cotton swab lightly dipped in makeup remover. — Micaela English, Glamour, 14 Aug. 2026 Lindsay Jones, senior manager of PR and brand experience at Maytag, adds that stainless steel appliances are often located in high-traffic areas like the kitchen, meaning they’re touched frequently and prone to constant smudges. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026 Tubman is all but indecipherable, roughly limned with white paint and covered by red, black, and yellow smudges and drips. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 There are few actual notes to his melodies, just smudges and stains. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026 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
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
  1. stains
  2. blackens
  3. blots
Noun
  • Though stains on clothes can be permanent, the tomatoes' citric acid acts as a cleaning agent, often leaving Buñol’s streets cleaner than before.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Key Takeaways Clean your bathtub weekly to prevent soap scum, stains, and hard water buildup.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of stains
Verb
  • As the salmon blackens in a skillet, the spices awaken, encrusting the fish in peppery piquant.
    — The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of blackens
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.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • One of the few blots on last summer’s Leeds copybook.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
Definition of blots

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Cite this Entry

“Smudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smudges. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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