smudge

¹smudge

verb \ˈsməj\

smudgedsmudg·ing

Definition of SMUDGE

transitive verb

1

a : to make a smudge on b : to soil as if by smudging

2

a : to rub, daub, or wipe in a smeary manner b : to make indistinct : blur <smudged the writing>

3

: to smoke or protect by means of a smudge

intransitive verb

1

: to make a smudge

2

: to become smudged

Examples of SMUDGE

1. Don't smudge the picture with your dirty hands!
2. His face was smudged with grease.

Origin of SMUDGE

Middle English smogen

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to SMUDGE

Synonyms: befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, daub, distain [archaic], foul, gaum [dialect], grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, dirty, soil, stain, sully

Antonyms: clean, cleanse

Related Words: contaminate, defile, pollute, taint; discolor; confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle; colly [chiefly British dialect], crock [dialect]

Near Antonyms: decontaminate, purge, purify; disinfect, sanitize; brush, dry-clean, dust, launder, mop, rinse, scour, scrub, sweep, wash, wipe; brighten, deodorize, freshen, renew, spruce (up); straighten (up), tidy (up)

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Rhymes with SMUDGE

bludge, budge, drudge, fudge, grudge, judge, nudge, sludge, trudge