staining 1 of 2

noun

as in discoloration

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staining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stain
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in blackening
to make dirty oil stained his work pants

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of staining
Noun
However, if the staining is heavy or set-in, use 1/4 cup of powder per gallon of water. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 June 2026 To further prevent obvious staining, choose darker flooring that won't show mud and dirt as easily. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026 Each of the 22 rays is represented in the primary somatosensory cortex by a distinct morphological module — a stripe of tissue identifiable under cytochrome oxidase staining, arranged in a pattern that mirrors the star’s geometry. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 Ideally, they are planted in a large, open green space where the falling walnuts won’t cause damage, harm, or permanent staining. — Cori Sears, The Spruce, 14 May 2026 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 Critically, the ancient teeth from betel nut chewers are distinguishable because of red staining. — Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Foods like tomato sauce and chocolate can cause staining if they aren’t wiped up right away. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026 Her hobbies include quilting, gardening and refurbishing furniture with Bill, with Hiers often adding the finishing touches by staining and painting their projects. — Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 17 Aug. 2026 If the grime is coming up but there’s still staining, spray some of the water and vinegar solution onto the area. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026 The closest look-alike, the black staining polypore mushroom, bruises to a black color when handled. — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026 The performance material is made with a blend of polyester, viscose, and linen blend to help prevent staining or wear and tear over the years. — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 6 Aug. 2026 The image above shows pinkish-orange guano staining large sections of some of the Danger Islands, Heroína Island and Beagle Island. — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 30 July 2026 Here are step-by-step instructions for staining a wood fence, including the necessary prep work and how to choose the best stain for the job. — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2026 Drinking water after coffee can help reduce acidity and wash away staining compounds. — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 10 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staining
  1. discoloration
  2. marring
  3. painting
  4. blackening
  5. darkening
  6. tinting
  7. dirtying
  8. spoiling
Noun
  • Niacinamide — a multi-functional ingredient that strengthens the skin barrier, regulates oil production, and calms and fades discoloration — is also in the mix.
    — Claudia Fisher, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In addition to discoloration and slow growth, high blood sugar can also cause nails to become brittle.
    — Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of discoloration
Verb
  • To prevent a similar war from happening again, Menelaus scarred her face, permanently marring her famous beauty.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • Lined with live oaks and old-fashioned, busy storefronts, this artsy town on the Gulf of Mexico has no commercial development marring its shoreline.
    — Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Definition of marring
Verb
  • By the late 1960s, Kusama had also turned herself into material, staging happenings, body-painting events, naked demonstrations, and antiwar actions.
    — Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • To begin with, the seventeenth-century French academic opposition of painting to sculpture assigns painting to sight and sculpture to touch—to sensation achieved through physical contact.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of painting
Verb
  • Morawetz also points to baking and air-frying as favorite preparation methods, noting that charring or blackening from direct high-heat grilling can be linked to health risks.
    — Embry Roberts, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Check monthly for signs of shriveling (add moisture), blackening or softening (discard).
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Definition of blackening
Verb
  • The title references Black Like Me, white journalist John Howard Griffin’s 1961 nonfiction book about darkening his skin to pass for Black in the Jim Crow South.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
  • During a total eclipse, the moon completely covers the face of the sun, darkening the sky and revealing just the sun’s outer atmosphere called the corona.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of darkening
Verb
  • The pumpkin takes their place, tinting the dough a pretty golden color.
    — Emily Paster, Midwest Living, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talked about tinting the windows to AT&T Stadium following the FIFA World Cup in an interview with Fox 4.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of tinting
Verb
  • Satisfy your lasagna craving without dirtying up a pile of dishes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of dirtying
Verb
  • CyberLeek is also threatening to post in-game footage spoiling the game’s story.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Without spoiling what happens next, the mutants confront Trask, and Mystique assumes his identity to further their mission.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of spoiling

Browse Nearby Words

stained
staining
stainless
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Cite this Entry

“Staining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staining. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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