smudge
Ink gone wrong
A smudge is a dirty mark or streak, typically made by rubbing: a smudge of ink on her finger, fingerprint smudges on the glass.
To smudge is to make such a mark or to blur something by rubbing: Don't touch the painting—you'll smudge it.
In spiritual practices, to smudge is to burn herbs like sage for ritual purification, and the noun names this ceremony: a smudge to cleanse the space.
Mark or location
- markVisible impression or sign
- streakUnbroken series
- smearSpread or defame
- blotchIrregular colored mark
splotch · fingerprint · thumbprint · dirt · grime · soot · grease · ink
Oxidation discoloration on metal
- besmirchTo soil someone's reputation
- sullyDamage one's standing
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- defameHarm reputation falsely
smear · stain · dishonor · malign · slur · aspersion · mudslinging · scandal
Burned wood residue
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- shadingDepicting light and darkness
- graphiteCrystalline carbon allotrope
- pastelPale, gentle shade
pencil · blending · texture · contour · drawing · gradation · brushwork · monochrome
spot
Mark or location
blotch · splotch · fingerprint · thumbprint · dirt · grime · soot · grease · ink · lipstick
tarnish
Oxidation discoloration on metal
defame · smear · stain · dishonor · malign · slur · aspersion · mudslinging · scandal · discredit
charcoal
Burned wood residue
pastel · pencil · blending · texture · contour · drawing · gradation · brushwork · monochrome · grayscale
sage
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
- sweetgrassFragrant ceremonial sedge
cedar · ceremony · sacred · spiritual · incense · smoke · bundle · feather · abalone · blessing
blurred
Indistinct, lacking clarity
- smearedSpread carelessly across
- fuzzySoft and unclear
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
hazy · obscured · softened · unfocused · out-of-focus · unclear · streaky · muddied · distorted · illegible
- filthdirt, grime, dirty, filthy, muck
- marksmark, blemish, blotch, stroke, seal of approval
- ink drawingink drawing, pen and ink, inking, linework, line work
- surface flawscrack, chip, scratch, dent, stain
- visual defectsblur, distortion, artifact, flaw, defect
- Art Mistakesblot, smear, drip, splatter, muddy colors
smudgesharp edge
Honed cutting surface
precision · definition · clarity · sharpness · crispness
smudgespotless
Completely free of marks
pristine · spotlessness · cleanliness · unblemished · clean
- smudged makeupCosmetics rubbed out of place
- smudge sticksBound dried plants for burning
- sage smudgingBurning herbs for purification
- smudge potOil-burning frost protector
- smudging ceremonyRitual burning for spiritual purification
smudged, smudges, smudgy, smudging, smudgier, smudgiest, smudginess, unsmudged