discolor

verb

Definition of discolornext
as in to smudge

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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 discolor While some people use vinegar to test silver, it isn't recommended for bullion coins because the acid can damage or discolor the surface. — Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 That being said, harsh chemical cleaners can cause the surface to crack or discolor over time, so mild soap and water are your best bet. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026 How to Deadhead Lilies Look for lily stems with flowers that have faded or are beginning to fade, discolor, or drop off. — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 21 July 2026 Additionally, any errant water drops that land on leaves are more likely to spread disease or discolor them during this time. — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for discolor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discolor
  1. smudge
  2. soil
  3. tarnish
  4. blacken
  5. smear
  6. pollute
  7. dirty
  8. stain
Verb
  • And the display has a matte finish, which reduces glare and doesn’t smudge easily.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than a hard, graphic line, her makeup artist smudged burgundy tones under the lower lashes.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of smudge
Verb
  • The problem is best corrected through adjustments to soil pH, though applications of iron also help.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Emily Cassidy, research associate at climate solutions nonprofit Project Drawdown, said composting offers the dual benefits of reducing landfill methane emissions and, once the composting process is complete, returning nutrients to soil.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of soil
Verb
  • How the Democratic brand tarnished Montana has not usually been thought of as a swing state in recent years.
    — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Major financial firms like Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo stopped participating in the company’s lucrative rankings of wealth advisers for fear of being tarnished by association.
    — Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of tarnish
Verb
  • As the balloon and its occupants fell to the ground, the nylon envelope and the gondola separated, and the wreckage scattered over a roughly 100-yard area, parts of it blackened by the explosion and resulting fire.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The shrinking process had exaggerated some features, vanished others, and blackened the flesh.
    — Daniel Barnum, Longreads, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of blacken
Verb
  • None of this excuses Chris’ malicious behavior, not just toward Carrie but toward her future stepsister, Brooklyn (Rowan Danielle), and the school as a whole, mostly via a fake Instagram account devoted to smearing students and faculty alike.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Her makeup, crafted by Diana Shin, was equally as striking and overtly feminine, featuring pink shadow smeared in her crease, shimmer on her lids, falsies glued to her top lash line and burgundy lip liner accenting her lips.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of smear
Verb
  • When those waters are polluted, the damage is not confined to a technical measurement in a permit or a line on a monitoring report.
    — Dana Adkins, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Norway rats can transmit diseases to humans and other animals, damage property, and pollute food.
    — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of pollute
Verb
  • To even wade into the arguments might dirty your hands, and mind.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Satisfy your lasagna craving without dirtying up a pile of dishes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
Definition of dirty
Verb
  • The armpits of the Quran shirt are stained with centuries-old sweat.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In 2005, a vote-buying scheme known as Mensalão led to the conviction of senior PT figures and stained the party’s image.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stain

Browse Nearby Words

discoidal
discolor
discoloration
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Discolor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discolor. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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