stain 1 of 2

verb

ˈstān How to pronounce stain (audio)
Definition of stainnext
1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to paint
to give color or a different color to stained the table to look like cherry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dirty
to make dirty oil stained his work pants

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stain

2 of 2

noun

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
2
as in pigment
a substance used to color other materials applied several coats of stain to the wood

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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 stain
Verb
Stadium officials say chewing gum, high heels and soft-drink stains are among the main culprits that stain the marble. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026 If the grime is coming up but there’s still staining, spray some of the water and vinegar solution onto the area. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
Fabric or Upholstery Fabric or upholstery stains are inevitable, but cleaning them with the wrong products can make the damage even worse. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 24 Aug. 2026 Enamel is known to hold up well, demonstrating resistance to scratches and stains, and gives appliances the feel of heirloom furniture, Murphy says. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stain
  1. taint
  2. paint
  3. dirty
  4. blot
  5. pigment
  6. mar
  7. color
  8. blacken
Verb
  • But Reese and her Dream teammates tainted the historic night during the final 20 seconds.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In July, the US was hit with a wave of explosive diarrhea caused by an outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that spreads through food and water tainted with human feces.
    — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of taint
Verb
  • On one wall, the ambassador installed Marc Lipp’s Fight Fight Fight, a depiction of Trump with a bloody ear and raised fist painted by one of the president’s favorite Palm Beach watercolorists.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Taken together, experts say, the moves paint a picture of a hedge fund manager willing to buy when others are forced to sell, take profits when opportunities change and rotate capital toward companies with strong underlying businesses.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of paint
Verb
  • Satisfy your lasagna craving without dirtying up a pile of dishes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
  • The zipper shoe compartment keeps your shoes from dirtying up your clothing, and the massive interior can hold many outfits for your weekend getaway.
    — Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of dirty
Noun
  • If especially juicy, lightly blot with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Once the stain is gone, blot again with a clean damp cloth to remove any soap residue and allow the upholstery to air-dry completely.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of blot
Noun
  • Tehrani-Bagha said chemical binders used in pigment printing and water-repellent finishes could reduce its effectiveness.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • DayGlo pigments were used extensively during World War II to make fluorescent fabric panels for US ground troops, while DayGlo’s black light paints were used on Navy aircraft carriers to enable planes to land at night.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of pigment
Verb
  • But his tenure has been marred by a number of fatal shootings of immigrants in encounters with ICE officers.
    — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Smith’s presence could help prevent the friction that marred Babcock’s tenures in Toronto and Columbus.
    — Janson Duench, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mar
Verb
  • Yet Williams senses an opportunity to color outside the lines, to hunt a big play to one of his favorite targets.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In addition to card games that take up little storage space, think about adding coloring books and markers or crayons to your storm shelter game collection.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of color
Verb
  • Corbin uses cabbage as an anchor in his new and expanding Rolodex of flavors, thrusting it into the fire until the outer layers are blackened and frizzled.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Timber Fire Monterey County’s Timber Fire burning near Big Sur has blackened nearly 2,500 acres since its start Monday afternoon and is 5% contained.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of blacken

Browse Nearby Words

staidness
stain
stained
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on stain

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stain

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