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
Dressing up for warmer weather can be a challenge since plush fabrics like silk can easily stain and aren’t as breathable. — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026 At the site, an Associated Press reporter saw rubble and chunks of concrete stained with blood. — Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
Noun
The interior also comes with a cotton liner, which will be much easier to spot-clean should your cosmetics or snacks leave a stain. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Using a fabric rinse instead of detergent can also break down stubborn deodorant stains. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 2 July 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
  • That experience is quickly tainted, however, once dullness and yellowing set into the fabrics.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • Murdaugh’s attorneys appealed the convictions, saying the trial was tainted by the county clerk Becky Hill’s inappropriate comments to jurors implying his guilt.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Definition of taint
Verb
  • To add interest and frame the berries, the index and pinky nails are painted in pink-and-white checkers.
    — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 3 July 2026
  • Mamdani sought to paint a picture of division in the country as a tool of the rich and powerful.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
Definition of paint
Verb
  • The spoon even comes with measuring lines for a teaspoon and tablespoon, saving you from having to dirty another utensil.
    — Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
  • But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of dirty
Noun
  • The only blot on an otherwise solid opening week for the World Cup expansion loyalists.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Let the cleaner sit for 15 minutes and blot the excess, or cover it with a damp cloth and leave it for up to 24 hours for heavily soiled or old, set-in spots.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
Definition of blot
Noun
  • In a process known as photobleaching, the UV light breaks down the chemical bonds in pigments, which can brighten your whites.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • Every Sunday, the kids club—adorably called Sweet Potato—organizes eco-educational activities such as bamboo kit workshops and pigment painting classes, and the shallow end of the beachfront infinity pool delivers hours of watery fun.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026
Definition of pigment
Verb
  • The World Cup group stage was marred for fans whose experiences mirrored Ramroop’s, leading FIFA and third-party platforms like StubHub to point fingers at each other amid the fallout.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
  • His previous loan at Girona was marred by injuries, impacting his World Cup aspirations.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of mar
Verb
  • The wines produced here are amber-colored from months of skin contact, tannic in ways white wine is not supposed to be, structured like reds but made from white grapes.
    — Michelle Williams, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Some parts of the film are displayed in a light shade (similar to sepia, just multi-light colored).
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 30 June 2026
Definition of color
Verb
  • The kernels should develop dark golden spots without becoming overly blackened.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • One of the daily specials, a creamy risotto accented with a bold red pepper puree and blackened shrimp, caught my eye and satisfied my cravings for something comforting.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stain

Nglish: Translation of stain for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stain

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