Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

PARIS—Billionaire tech investor Masayoshi Son was in despair three years ago—his reputation stained by bad startup bets and his company’s stock price cut in half.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

Property damage looks like stained carpeting, unusual paint colors or damaged appliances.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Blood stained the white limestone rocks, blending in with the West Bank's distinctive reddish soil.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

In a recent study published in Nature Geoscience, the researchers turned their attention to two blackwater lakes stained dark by plant material: Africa's largest blackwater lake, Lac Mai Ndombe, and the smaller Lac Tumba.

From Science Daily • Feb. 24, 2026

If his reputation were stained, the gallery would be ruined.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day