as in discoloration
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in marring
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in painting
to give color or a different color to
stained the table to look like cherry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in blackening
to make dirty
oil stained his work pants
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of staining
IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2026
Using chemical imaging techniques, researchers attempted to determine whether the staining was intentional or accidental.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Similarly, mold that is not treated may spread into and through the wall or ceiling and causing new staining to appear months or even weeks later.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 27 Jan. 2026
This will avoid causing damage to the sealant and potential staining.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Critically, the ancient teeth from betel nut chewers are distinguishable because of red staining.
—Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
If your books have already been affected, the staining will likely remain—even after treatment—and mold may return, Fifield warns.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
The cast iron ensures even heat distribution and the enamel iresists fading, chipping, cracking, and staining.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
This could affect projects like painting the side of your home or even staining your deck.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026
Make sure the deck is completely dry before staining or sealing it.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Studies have found that embarrassment around menstruation remains common, with many girls reporting anxiety about leaks, staining or being noticed by peers.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Drum roll, please, for Kulfi’s innovative creamy, staining lip liner.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
By harnessing a particle accelerator to generate extraordinarily bright, coherent X-rays, the team was able to capture high-resolution internal anatomy in seconds, without the lengthy staining or other preprocessing steps often required for soft-tissue contrast in standard lab scanners.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2026
Using chemical imaging techniques, researchers attempted to determine whether the staining was intentional or accidental.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Similarly, mold that is not treated may spread into and through the wall or ceiling and causing new staining to appear months or even weeks later.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 27 Jan. 2026
This will avoid causing damage to the sealant and potential staining.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Critically, the ancient teeth from betel nut chewers are distinguishable because of red staining.
—Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Allow the area to dry and repeat the process if visible mold or staining remains.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
If your books have already been affected, the staining will likely remain—even after treatment—and mold may return, Fifield warns.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
The cast iron ensures even heat distribution and the enamel iresists fading, chipping, cracking, and staining.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
This could affect projects like painting the side of your home or even staining your deck.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026
Make sure the deck is completely dry before staining or sealing it.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Studies have found that embarrassment around menstruation remains common, with many girls reporting anxiety about leaks, staining or being noticed by peers.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Drum roll, please, for Kulfi’s innovative creamy, staining lip liner.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staining
Noun
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This deformation and discoloration are attributed to the excessive heat some bricks experience in the firing process.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
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Adding teeth whitening toothpaste to your daily brushing routine is an excellent way to address discoloration caused by popular culprits such as coffee, wine and smoking.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ancient lava fields can be seen as dark lunar maria marring the silvery lunar surface, which themselves are threaded with bright streaks of reflective debris strewn across the surface by violent asteroid strikes.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Her story bridges personal reinvention, financial literacy, and access to opportunity, painting a picture of a life led by change and growth.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Customize it by painting the wood a fun color or staining it for a rustic look.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And Hanceville’s fate is as murky as the fog that pours in at night, blotting out buildings and blackening the road ahead.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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These tungsten atoms would then condense on the slightly cooler inside of the glass bulb, blackening it and dimming the light over time.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The industry is grappling with these logistical hurdles against a backdrop of darkening economic sentiment.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
23 Apr. 2026
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The economist Adam Posen on the effect of the war in Iran on the world’s economy and the darkening economic outlook for the United States.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The atmosphere is lousy with the stuff, tinting the air a butterscotch color—except near the sun in the sky, where light scattering creates a blue aura that is best visible at sunset.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
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Consider tinting your brows one to two shades darker than your new hair color for a cohesive look.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
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Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.—
Adam Roy,
Outside,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The Wilderness guides at Magashi Peninsula are well trained, the accommodation and food spoiling, and the wildlife sightings glorious.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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There is no dumber tradition that's come with this insufferable age of social media than spoiling draft picks.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Staining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staining. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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