Smudgy

Describing something that is marked or covered with smears, blurred areas, or indistinct patches, often due to handling, rubbing, or insufficient care. A smudgy appearance suggests a lack of sharpness, clarity, or definition. It can apply to visual elements like writing, artwork, or fingerprints, as well as abstract qualities like a vague memory or a compromised reputation. The term implies a state of being unclear or imperfectly formed, frequently suggesting a lack of precision, attention to detail, or a clean aesthetic. This lack of sharpness often leads to a less pleasing or less easily interpreted outcome. Furthermore, 'smudgy' can subtly convey a sense of imperfection, perhaps due to negligence or hasty execution. The word evokes a visual or tactile sensation of something being carelessly treated, resulting in a diminished quality.

Smudgy meaning with examples

• The child's artwork, created with charcoal pencils, was a smudgy mess. His energetic strokes produced blurred lines and indistinct shapes, though it clearly conveyed a feeling of motion. There were streaks of grey all over the paper which made it challenging to appreciate the original form. He had enthusiastically gotten his hands dirty, a sign of a fun session.
• Her signature on the document was smudgy, partially because she had used a cheap pen and quickly signed it in haste. The ink bled slightly across the paper, rendering parts of the letters illegible. The hastily completed document indicated her lack of care. It was unclear whether there was deliberate neglect to make the signature less obvious.
• The old photograph, pulled from the attic, had become smudgy with age and handling. Fingerprints and faded areas obscured some of the details. While the memories were there, it was a reminder that life is not always the high quality we want. There was nostalgia, which may have heightened the emotion.
• He tried to recall her face but his memories were smudgy and uncertain, like a dream half-remembered. Details like her eye colour escaped his reach, leaving him with only a fuzzy impression of her smile and voice. He recalled that this was a reminder that all memories slowly fade over time, especially those from childhood.