# smudge

> English word · Noun · IPA /smʌd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #36,762

## Definitions
1. A blemish or smear, especially a dark or sooty one.
2. Dense smoke, such as that used for fumigation.
3. A heap of damp combustibles partially ignited and burning slowly, placed on the windward side of a house, tent, etc. to keep off mosquitoes or other insects.
4. A quantity of herbs used in suffumigation.

## Etymology
Derived from the verb (see below). Doublet of smutch.

## Easily confused with
- **smug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smudge-vs-smug)
- **surge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smudge-vs-surge)
- **smuggle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smudge-vs-smuggle)
- **smudged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smudge-vs-smudged)
- **sludge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sludge-vs-smudge)
- **sledge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sledge-vs-smudge)

## Common misspellings (9)
`msudge`, `smduge`, `smmudge`, `smuddge`, `smudeg`, `smudgge`, `smugde`, `ssmudge`, `sumdge`

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