smirches 1 of 2

noun

plural of smirch
as in stains
a mark of guilt or disgrace corruption charges that were a smirch on her reputation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smirches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of smirch
1
as in blackens
to make dirty their clothes were smirched by dust from the trail

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humiliates
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes this scandal will forever smirch the name of a once-great family

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirches
  1. stains
  2. blackens
  3. humiliates
  4. blots
  5. dirties
  6. discredits
  7. besmirches
  8. messes
Noun
  • They’re engineered to be both soft and sturdy with open-cell foam that doesn’t scratch but does whisk away lipstick marks and dried-on Merlot stains.
    — Editors of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Recent photos of the inside appear to show puddles and stains from water damage and char marks from fire.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of stains
Verb
  • After the first killing frost blackens their foliage, wait for a dry day and gently lift them with a garden fork.
    — Pam Rosendal, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Filming a scene in which Isaiah humiliates Cam, Withers asked Wayans to crack jokes about Kionte’s death — the defining event of Withers’ life, and his lowest point.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Diomande just humiliates fullbacks.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Definition of humiliates
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
Verb
  • The adventurous actress dirties up her frock and face to play the village pariah, who reeks of fish and would be no man’s idea of a suitable wife, except perhaps the one-eyed bum who sleeps in the town square.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of dirties
Verb
  • Taking aim at history on the exact 250th anniversary of the United States, the White House Domestic Policy Council released a report on July 4 that discredits the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
    — Nora Oakes Howard, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.
    — Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 1 Dec. 2025
Definition of discredits
Verb
  • The eggs were fluffy, lacking any of the rubbery slop that besmirches lesser breakfast burritos.
    — Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 1 Dec. 2025
  • This cynicism inevitably besmirches players, coaches, and referees who have no ties to gambling.
    — Danny Funt, New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of besmirches
Verb
  • Address messes immediately, use a cleaning caddy for convenience, and manage paperwork promptly.
    — Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Ships, like airplanes, are designed with fluid dynamics in mind, and biofoul seriously messes that up.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
Definition of messes
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.

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Cite this Entry

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

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