# smudge vs smuggle

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### smudge
*noun · IPA /smʌd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #36,762*
A blemish or smear, especially a dark or sooty one.

### smuggle
*verb · IPA /ˈsmʌɡəl/ · frequency rank #25,210*
To import or export, illicitly or by stealth, without paying lawful customs charges or duties

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smudge-vs-smuggle