Definition

The condition of being dirty or unclear due to marks or smudges.

Example

The smudginess of the window made it hard to see outside.

Conversation

I noticed my drawing has a bit of smudginess to it.

Yeah, it can happen if you use charcoal too heavily.

I didn’t think it would turn out like this!

Maybe you could try blending it better to reduce the smudginess.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Smudginess → It is formed from "smudge" (of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle English *smudgen*, meaning to smear or stain) and the suffix "-iness" (meaning the quality of being). The word "smudginess" refers to the quality of being smeared or stained.

Memory Tip

Think of the act of smearing something, which creates a 'smudge' — and the '-iness' indicates the quality of that smudge. This helps you remember that 'smudginess' is about the quality of being smeared.

Visually Confused Words