What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
smudge
Example
She accidentally smudged her lipstick while eating. [smudged: past tense]
Example
The artist used her finger to smudge the charcoal drawing for a softer effect. [smudge: verb]
stain
Example
The red wine stain on the carpet was impossible to remove. [stain: noun]
Example
He stained his shirt with grease from the bike chain. [stained: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stain is more commonly used than smudge in everyday language. Stain is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while smudge is less common and often used in specific contexts like art or makeup.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between smudge and stain?
Both smudge and stain are relatively informal words. However, stain can be used in more formal contexts like scientific research or academic writing, while smudge is more limited in its formality level.
