daub

1 of 2

verb

ˈdȯb

ˈdäb

daubed; daubing; daubs

Synonyms of daub next

transitive verb

: to cover or coat with soft adhesive matter : plaster

: to coat with a dirty substance

: to apply coloring material crudely to

: to apply (something, such as paint) crudely

intransitive verb

archaic : to put on a false exterior

: to apply colors crudely

daub

2 of 2

noun

: material used to daub walls

: an act or instance of daubing

: something daubed on : smear

: a crude picture

Example Sentences

Verb He daubed some cologne on his neck. Daub the potatoes with a little butter. Various political slogans had been daubed on the walls. He sighed deeply and daubed his eyes with a tissue. Noun She added a few daubs of color to the painting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Architect and interior designer Harry Nuriev customized one of his signature denim upholstered pieces especially for the sale: a turntable (recently exhibited at Paris’ Carpenters Workshop Gallery, daubed in neon graffiti inspired by Williams’ lyrics and track titles. —

Stephanie Hirschmiller, ELLE, 21 June 2023 Sometime around 2015, Cacao Rocks started daubing walls with THIS IS NOT BERLIN as a form of protest. —

Tony Perrottet, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2023 The facility’s signature scroll design was his handiwork, too, as were a series of water jugs, jauntily daubed with splotches of paint to resemble women. —

Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2023 Czech dictator Klement Gottwald stands alone in a small grove, the blood-red paint still as fresh on his hands as if daubed on yesterday. —

Christopher Helman, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023 Homeless people were sleeping in its cavernous hall, which was daubed with graffiti and stinking of urine. —

Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2023 The third series, created by dripping and daubing paint on large unstretched canvases, was in evidence as a pile draped over a table. —

Briana Miller | , oregonlive, 10 Mar. 2023 Batches were tied up in fishing nets and daubed with solid dirt, creating the firm bases upon which the boat is moored and that are also fertile ground for climbing tropical plants. —

Rodney Muhumuza, ajc, 5 Mar. 2023 Edwina's radiant with joy as Mary and Kate daub her with the turmeric paste. —

Sara Netzley, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2022

Noun

Konkel is known for topping her abstractions with mesh, often folded or crumpled, and sometimes with daubs of paint atop the netting. —

Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 16 June 2023 Collage may indicate motion in Furey’s work, as in two pictures of dancers whose bodies are covered in patterns, whether more flower photos or rendered with line and daub. —

Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2023 Riley’s painting is modest in size, 40 inches by 30 inches, and it’s largely assembled from short, confetti-like daubs of color — blue interspersed with green, gray, ocher and taupe, plus an occasional jolt of red-tile roof. —

Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2023 The fleshy tips of the middle three on each foot sported a daub of robin-egg blue. —

Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 27 Aug. 2019 Mama’s makeup had blended well over the hours, turning her face into a daub of peanut butter. —

Venita Blackburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 July 2021 And the dark brown fellow with the daub of white between his eyes is Little Mike, one of the premier grass runners of the past decade. —

Smithsonian Magazine, 10 May 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'daub.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.