as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
corruption charges that were a smirch on her reputation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to stain
to make dirty
their clothes were smirched by dust from the trail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to humiliate
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirch
Noun
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There’s a reserved spot in hell for the s*** stains pursuing this vile campaign to erase trans people.—
Andrew Sheeler,
Sacramento Bee,
17 Feb. 2025 -
For a president who came into office claiming that human rights would be at the crux of his foreign policy, Biden's inability to hold Azerbaijan responsible for its war crimes and atrocities will be a stain on his legacy.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The brush fire blackened about 100 square feet before being extinguished by firefighters, deputies said in the news release.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacramento Bee,
5 Feb. 2025
-
In Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Malibu, history burned and blackened the sky.—
Alex Ross,
The New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The biggest threat facing the pair is senior MI6 official Jim Richardson (Hugh Bonneville), who has been keeping tabs on the Sudanese, and sees in Martian’s love for Samia an opportunity to both humiliate and strong-arm his former ally into sharing CIA secrets.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Someone may be a masochist but not into being humiliated.—
Fran Tirado,
Them,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Such stories also give permission to new forms, while protecting designs from too strong a taint of faddishness, or of strenuous icon-making.—
Ian Parker,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
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While Weiss had rejected any taint of politics in his approach, the investigation was the subject of much congressional scrutiny.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Grease dirtied the handles of the ovens, the microwave ovens and the coolers.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2025
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Instead of dirtying a larger pot for your supporting dishes, this quaint cooker will come in handy for quick (or slower simmering) concoctions while matching your kitchen atmosphere.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Lucy’s husband, Justin (Mark Coles Smith), is one of the journalists who trains his sights on Gibson as a safer target for frustration than his spouse, and out of a vain hope discrediting Gibson will persuade Lucy to resume chemotherapy.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2025
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Privately, former officials who worked for Thao and other city officials have attempted to discredit Webb’s allegations, which have quietly raised eyebrows and skepticism around the town’s political circles for some time.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
The Mercury News,
2 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Yes, last year ended in failure, regardless of the points tally, and that is an understandable blot on Farke’s copybook.—
Beren Cross,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
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To eradicate pet stains from most surfaces, blot or wipe as much as possible with a clean, dry cloth.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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With her buzz cut and Bikini Kill T-shirt, Brie Larson’s Elektra is presented as a rebel, a provocateur, and the kind of obsessively angry soul who might well carry her microphone around town in order to besmirch her mother and berate the world.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Feb. 2025
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Images illustrating the reality versus carefully edited Instagram selfies have somewhat besmirched Santorini’s romantic reputation of late.—
Helen Iatrou,
AFAR Media,
16 Dec. 2024
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Thesaurus Entries Near smirch
Cite this Entry
“Smirch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirch. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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