smudged; smudging
1
a
: a blurry spot or streak
b
: an immaterial stain
cleanse him of every last smudge of impropriety—
Richard Hanser
Richard Hanser
c
: an indistinct mass : blur
2
: a smoldering mass placed on the windward side (as to protect from frost)
3
: a bid of four in pitch that if made wins the game
Examples of smudge in a Sentence
Verb
Don't smudge the picture with your dirty hands!
His face was smudged with grease.
Noun
His hand left a grimy smudge on the wall.
the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal
Recent Examples on the Web
Mara Mills, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025
Wrought from a bevy of synths and pedals manipulated live in her London studio and mastered by Telefon Tel Aviv, Whatever the Weather II presents a song cycle themed around different temperatures, smudging tactile and vaporous sounds into an alluring collage.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 14 Mar. 2025
Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Non-shiny finishes are also less likely to show fingerprints and oily smudges that are so common in a busy space like the kitchen.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
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Verb
Her circles are irregularly shaped, the charcoal lines smudged.
—Mara Mills, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025
Wrought from a bevy of synths and pedals manipulated live in her London studio and mastered by Telefon Tel Aviv, Whatever the Weather II presents a song cycle themed around different temperatures, smudging tactile and vaporous sounds into an alluring collage.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
The only smudge on an otherwise record-setting year came when the confetti fell at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh and Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., as the Toros watched their opponents celebrated winning NCAA Division II national titles.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Non-shiny finishes are also less likely to show fingerprints and oily smudges that are so common in a busy space like the kitchen.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smudge
Cite this Entry
“Smudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smudge. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smudge
1 of 2 verb
smudged; smudging
1
a
: to make a smudge on
b
: to soil as if by smudging
2
: to make a smudge
a chalk that does not smudge
3
: to become smudged
charcoal drawings smudge easily
smudge
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a blurry spot or streak : smear
2
: a fire made to smoke (as for protecting fruit from frost)
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