STAINS Synonyms: 179 Similar and Opposite Words

stains 1 of 2

noun

plural of stain

as in blots

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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as in pigments

a substance used to color other materials applied several coats of stain to the wood

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stains

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stain

as in taints

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat

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as in paints

to give color or a different color to stained the table to look like cherry

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as in smudges

to make dirty oil stained his work pants

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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 stains

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, 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 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 More specifically, 55 percent of ready-to-wear consumers note their frustrations with sweat stains. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026 The most common culprits for grout stains are spills, cleaning residue, and mold/mildew buildup. — Abid Haque, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026 Different stains call for different treatments, and one of the most useful fixes may already be in your pantry. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2026 Silicone is also notorious for holding on to stains and smells, but that's a fundamental problem with the material, and not unique to these containers. — Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

The self-tan wipes are easy to apply and contain exfoliating acids that smooth the skin, plus encapsulated DHA (the ingredient that stains the skin) to leave behind a radiant tan. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 13 Aug. 2026 Homemade plum compote stains the filling with a vibrant red ribbon. — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026 When that protective finish gets damaged, the toilet actually stains easier and is harder to keep clean over time. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 24 May 2026 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 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

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

Noun

Simply use a cleansing balm or micellar water makeup remover that dissolves the pigments and film-forming agents that make the eyeshadow waterproof and long-lasting.

— Laura Sandroni, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Unlike other pigments, structural colors maintain their vibrancy while also remaining incredibly durable.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of pigments

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

Definition of smudges

Noun

Each flower must be picked and carefully dissected to remove three tiny red threads, known as stigmas.

— Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
This initiative led to crucial, culturally sensitive resources for Asian families while breaking down long-standing stigmas surrounding dementia.

— Alzheimer’s Association, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of stigmas

Noun

Dealing with dyes The push to remove certain artificial dyes from food and drugs, for example, was a headline grabber.

— Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
The facility will manufacturer dyes, printing chemicals and finishing chemicals for the textile and apparel industry and equipped with a fleet of Tonello machinery for testing and sampling.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of dyes

Verb

Set in 2029 in a future where no mutants have been born in 25 years, Jackman plays an older, grizzlier Wolverine, one whose healing factor is fading as his adamantium skeleton slowly poisons him.

— Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
Any infection can progress to a systemic disease that poisons the blood and body.

— RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of poisons

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stainlessness

stains

stake

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Style

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

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Synonyms of stains

noun

verb

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