| Smudge (4) | Puzzler | 27 Oct 2025 | 
          
            | Mar | Puzzler Backwords | 29 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Dab with a towel | New York Times | 07 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Ink splotch |  |  | 
          
            | Ink or paint stain |  |  | 
          
            | Stain | The Telegraph Quick | 27 Jul 2025 | 
          
            | Dab | LA Times Daily | 25 Jul 2025 | 
          
            | Part of a Rorschach test | LA Times Daily | 09 Jul 2025 | 
          
            | Mop up the ink and get out to obliterate it (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Note auction item has a blemish (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Leaky pen mishap |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test item | Family Time | 08 Jun 2025 | 
          
            | Rorschach test visual |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up excess ink (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain | The Sun Two Speed | 23 May 2025 | 
          
            | Drunk wanting to destroy | The Sun Two Speed | 23 May 2025 | 
          
            | Be given a lot of ink |  |  | 
          
            | Dab dry | Newsday | 16 May 2025 | 
          
            | Ink splotch | USA Today | 09 May 2025 | 
          
            | Mar | Puzzler Backwords | 02 May 2025 | 
          
            | Inkdrop (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Ink mark at start of book with a good deal else (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge | The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 03 Apr 2025 | 
          
            | Stain book, on the whole |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain | Universal | 23 Mar 2025 | 
          
            | Drunk wanting to destroy | The Times Cryptic | 20 Mar 2025 | 
          
            | Ink mark, and how to mop it up (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Ink splotch, and a synonym for "small imperfection" |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain | Commuter | 03 Mar 2025 | 
          
            | Dab dry | Newsday | 13 Feb 2025 | 
          
            | Ink mark, and how to dry it (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Ink splotch | Universal | 03 Feb 2025 | 
          
            | Ink splotch |  |  | 
          
            | Dry letters (4) |  |  | 
          
            | The second grade section was a bit of an eyesore (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Bigheaded group tending to spoil things (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Mop up excess of ink dropped on paper (4) |  |  | 
          
            | ____ one's copybook | The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 30 Dec 2024 | 
          
            | Inky stain | Eugene Sheffer | 09 Dec 2024 | 
          
            | Ink accident | Wall Street Journal | 07 Dec 2024 | 
          
            | Pat dry |  |  | 
          
            | Be given a lot of ink to spill |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up an eyesore (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Stain or spot of ink (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Spot a misplaced bolt (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Smear from group supporting Belgium (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Ink or paint stain |  |  | 
          
            | Mark on a Rorschach test |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain | The Times Concise | 16 Sep 2024 | 
          
            | Ink stain that rhymes with "slot" |  |  | 
          
            | Stain or eyesore (4) | Puzzler | 12 Sep 2024 | 
          
            | Mark side of broken auction item (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Spot a line missing in voting paper | The Times Quick Cryptic | 22 Aug 2024 | 
          
            | Dark stain in British group (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Inky smear | Thomas Joseph | 22 Jul 2024 | 
          
            | Dry, as ink |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain | Mirror Tea Time | 18 Jul 2024 | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Spot of ink |  |  | 
          
            | The disgrace of a big-headed clique? |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up, as a spill |  |  | 
          
            | Ink ___ (Rorschach shape) (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Even Abel won't make a mark (4) |  |  | 
          
            | A mark or blemish (4) |  |  | 
          
            | First Biro made much of the ink-mark (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Unsightly mark (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain | Universal | 12 Jun 2024 | 
          
            | Ink stain | Newsday | 11 Jun 2024 | 
          
            | Leaky pen mishap |  |  | 
          
            | Dab dry | LA Times Daily | 25 May 2024 | 
          
            | An inky stain |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smear | Newsday | 12 May 2024 | 
          
            | Ink stain | The Sun Two Speed | 10 May 2024 | 
          
            | Mark in second-class band | The Sun Two Speed | 10 May 2024 | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | It might ruin a landscape (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Exposure of a piece of stain (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain | Universal | 18 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | Big amount following black ink spilt (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Mark group behind bishop (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up (ink) | Puzzler Backwords | 12 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | ___ out the name of Haman (4) |  |  | 
          
            | To be shown fate is apt to be a bit messy |  |  | 
          
            | Second letter has large quantity of spilt ink! (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Smear (4) | Puzzler | 27 Mar 2024 | 
          
            | Record flaw | Newsday | 23 Mar 2024 | 
          
            | Be given plenty of ink |  |  | 
          
            | Dab freshly applied lipstick with a tissue say |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smear | Newsday | 13 Mar 2024 | 
          
            | Ink splotch, and a synonym for "small imperfection" |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach sample |  |  | 
          
            | Ink splotch on a white shirt, say |  |  | 
          
            | Dab a spill |  |  | 
          
            | A drop of ink, perhaps (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Ink-mark (4) |  |  | 
          
            | Ink splotch |  |  | 
          
            | Onus |  |  | 
          
            | Smear second-rate group | The Times Quick Cryptic | 25 Dec 2023 | 
          
            | Soak up spill |  |  | 
          
            | Image in the Rorschach test |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smudge | Eugene Sheffer | 30 Nov 2023 | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smear | Newsday | 20 Nov 2023 | 
          
            | Printer smudge | LA Times Daily | 06 Nov 2023 | 
          
            | Make use of a paper towel | Family Time | 05 Nov 2023 | 
          
            | Inky stain | LA Times Daily | 17 Oct 2023 | 
          
            | Splotch of ink | Universal | 03 Oct 2023 | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain | Newsday | 29 Aug 2023 | 
          
            | Ink smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Dab with a tissue | LA Times Daily | 19 Jun 2023 | 
          
            | Calligraphy mishap | Newsday | 18 Jun 2023 | 
          
            | Inky stain | Eugene Sheffer | 08 Jun 2023 | 
          
            | Exposed checker, in backgammon | Wall Street Journal | 03 Jun 2023 | 
          
            | Inky image | LA Times Daily | 23 May 2023 | 
          
            | Ink smudge | Eugene Sheffer | 12 May 2023 | 
          
            | Messy pen mark |  |  | 
          
            | Spoil line inserted in software program | The Guardian Cryptic | 02 May 2023 | 
          
            | Ink splotch |  |  | 
          
            | Inky stain | Eugene Sheffer | 24 Feb 2023 | 
          
            | Result of a leaky pen, perhaps | New York Times | 01 Feb 2023 | 
          
            | Dark mark | Wall Street Journal | 28 Jan 2023 | 
          
            | Smear black mass | The Guardian Quiptic | 16 Jan 2023 | 
          
            | Dab, as spilled ink | New York Times | 16 Jan 2023 | 
          
            | Dab, as with a paper towel | New York Times | 09 Jan 2023 | 
          
            | Ink stain | USA Today | 22 Dec 2022 | 
          
            | Mark in a Rorschach test | Universal | 03 Dec 2022 | 
          
            | Ink splotch |  |  | 
          
            | Drunk failing to get dry | The Telegraph Toughie | 11 Nov 2022 | 
          
            | Ink smudge | Eugene Sheffer | 06 Oct 2022 | 
          
            | Dab at, as lipstick | LA Times Daily | 25 Sep 2022 | 
          
            | Blemish | The Guardian Quick | 22 Sep 2022 | 
          
            | Smudge | LA Times Daily | 20 Aug 2022 | 
          
            | Splotch of ink | New York Times | 25 Jul 2022 | 
          
            | Dab with a napkin | Universal | 14 Jul 2022 | 
          
            | Rorschach test component | LA Times Daily | 07 Jun 2022 | 
          
            | Rorschach test component | The Washington Post | 07 Jun 2022 | 
          
            | Ink smear | Newsday | 02 May 2022 | 
          
            | Rorschach test mark |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test image |  |  | 
          
            | Patch of ink on a crisp white shirt, say |  |  | 
          
            | Inky stain | Eugene Sheffer | 28 Mar 2022 | 
          
            | Smudge | Universal | 26 Mar 2022 | 
          
            | Ink "oops" | New York Times | 21 Mar 2022 | 
          
            | Inky stain | LA Times Daily | 14 Mar 2022 | 
          
            | Inky stain | The Washington Post | 14 Mar 2022 | 
          
            | Use a paper towel effectively | Family Time | 27 Feb 2022 | 
          
            | Ink smudge | Universal | 08 Feb 2022 | 
          
            | Dark stain | The Washington Post Sunday | 09 Jan 2022 | 
          
            | Stain | New York Times | 31 Dec 2021 | 
          
            | Boodle's mark | The Guardian Cryptic | 27 Dec 2021 | 
          
            | Boodle's mark |  |  | 
          
            | Inky smear | Thomas Joseph | 08 Dec 2021 | 
          
            | Dark mark | Wall Street Journal | 30 Nov 2021 | 
          
            | Brahms not having to defect? |  |  | 
          
            | Stain | Wall Street Journal | 06 Nov 2021 | 
          
            | Record blemish | LA Times Daily | 04 Nov 2021 | 
          
            | Reputation stain | The Washington Post | 06 Oct 2021 | 
          
            | Reputation stain | LA Times Daily | 06 Oct 2021 | 
          
            | Ink stain | Newsday | 06 Oct 2021 | 
          
            | Rorschach image | LA Times Daily | 29 Sep 2021 | 
          
            | Rorschach image | The Washington Post | 29 Sep 2021 | 
          
            | Inky stain | Newsday | 28 Sep 2021 | 
          
            | Rorschach test mark | USA Today | 27 Sep 2021 | 
          
            | Obscure, with 'out' | New York Times | 22 Aug 2021 | 
          
            | Smudge | New York Times | 11 Jul 2021 | 
          
            | Rorschach test component | Universal | 24 Jun 2021 | 
          
            | Eyesore | Newsday | 29 May 2021 | 
          
            | Ink smear | Newsday | 10 May 2021 | 
          
            | Record concern | LA Times Daily | 29 Apr 2021 | 
          
            | Record concern | The Washington Post | 29 Apr 2021 | 
          
            | Dab with a tissue, say | USA Today | 22 Apr 2021 | 
          
            | Ink smudge | Eugene Sheffer | 12 Apr 2021 | 
          
            | Mark footballers not for sale | Irish Times Crosaire | 22 Mar 2021 | 
          
            | Moral flaw | Thomas Joseph | 19 Mar 2021 | 
          
            | Ink or paint stain |  |  | 
          
            | Ink spot | The Telegraph Quick | 25 Jan 2021 | 
          
            | Ink stain | Newsday | 12 Jan 2021 | 
          
            | Dab with a towel | Newsday | 26 Nov 2020 | 
          
            | Dab at | USA Today | 06 Nov 2020 | 
          
            | Dark mark or stain | The Times Concise | 06 Nov 2020 | 
          
            | Ink stain | The Telegraph Quick | 11 Oct 2020 | 
          
            | Ink splotch |  |  | 
          
            | Unintended ink, maybe | The Washington Post | 10 Sep 2020 | 
          
            | Unintended ink, maybe | LA Times Daily | 10 Sep 2020 | 
          
            | Inky stain | Eugene Sheffer | 27 Aug 2020 | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test image | Universal | 10 Jul 2020 | 
          
            | Rorschach image | New York Times | 29 Jun 2020 | 
          
            | Blemish; disgrace | The Guardian Speedy | 28 Jun 2020 | 
          
            | Ink stain | Universal | 19 Jun 2020 | 
          
            | Ink smudge | The Washington Post Sunday | 14 Jun 2020 | 
          
            | Smudge | Canadiana | 25 May 2020 | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Bit of spatter | USA Today | 10 Mar 2020 | 
          
            | In backgammon, a single checker on a point | The Times Specialist Sunday | 29 Dec 2019 | 
          
            | Disgrace of guts turning in bar | The Telegraph Toughie | 31 Oct 2019 | 
          
            | Paint stain, say |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Brahms and Liszt refusing to defect |  |  | 
          
            | Stain that is generally left by p?t? removed from table top | Irish Times Crosaire | 11 Sep 2019 | 
          
            | Rorschach test item | Family Time | 08 Sep 2019 | 
          
            | Scribe's mishap | Newsday | 06 Sep 2019 | 
          
            | Flaw on a record | Newsday | 07 Jul 2019 | 
          
            | Rorschach test feature | Universal | 26 Jun 2019 | 
          
            | Moral flaw | LA Times Daily | 20 Jun 2019 | 
          
            | Moral flaw | The Washington Post | 20 Jun 2019 | 
          
            | Stain that is generally left by p?t? removed from table-top | Irish Times Crosaire | 20 May 2019 | 
          
            | Mark in second-class band | The Sun Two Speed | 15 May 2019 | 
          
            | Ink stain | The Sun Two Speed | 15 May 2019 | 
          
            | Ink smudge | Newsday | 02 Apr 2019 | 
          
            | Ink smudge | LA Times Daily | 28 Mar 2019 | 
          
            | Ink smudge | The Washington Post | 28 Mar 2019 | 
          
            | Rorschach image | USA Today | 21 Mar 2019 | 
          
            | Dark mark | Wall Street Journal | 07 Mar 2019 | 
          
            | Stain on one's reputation | USA Today | 17 Feb 2019 | 
          
            | Ink stain that rhymes with "slot" |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Stain on one's reputation |  |  | 
          
            | Dark mark |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach image |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Moral flaw |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test feature |  |  | 
          
            | Dark stain | Wall Street Journal | 19 Dec 2018 | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Blemish | Universal | 22 Nov 2018 | 
          
            | Losing to drunk is a disgrace |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge | The Washington Post | 25 Oct 2018 | 
          
            | Smudge | LA Times Daily | 25 Oct 2018 | 
          
            | Spot British site |  |  | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Inky mess | New York Times | 11 Jun 2018 | 
          
            | Ink problem | New York Times | 16 Apr 2018 | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Dirt blemish | Universal | 12 Mar 2018 | 
          
            | Ink smudge | Universal | 07 Mar 2018 | 
          
            | Dab with a towel | USA Today | 29 Jan 2018 | 
          
            | Dark stain |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Blemish |  |  | 
          
            | Dab with a towel |  |  | 
          
            | Inky mess |  |  | 
          
            | Ink problem |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach-test shape |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Splotch | Universal | 22 Nov 2017 | 
          
            | Blemish | Canadiana | 23 Oct 2017 | 
          
            | A drop of ink? | The Telegraph Cryptic | 02 Oct 2017 | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain | Family Time | 10 Sep 2017 | 
          
            | Make mark on Brunning's first collection |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach image | The Washington Post Sunday | 03 Sep 2017 | 
          
            | Blemish in book collection |  |  | 
          
            | Inky smear | Thomas Joseph | 25 Aug 2017 | 
          
            | Rorschach test shape | New York Times | 22 Aug 2017 | 
          
            | Smudge | The Telegraph Quick | 13 Aug 2017 | 
          
            | Ink spot | Premier Sunday | 13 Aug 2017 | 
          
            | Try to contain, in a way, as a spill | New York Times | 15 Apr 2017 | 
          
            | Record flaw | LA Times Daily | 15 Apr 2017 | 
          
            | Record flaw | The Washington Post | 15 Apr 2017 | 
          
            | Rorschach image | LA Times Daily | 09 Apr 2017 | 
          
            | Rorschach image | The Washington Post | 09 Apr 2017 | 
          
            | Ink stain, e.g | Family Time | 03 Apr 2017 | 
          
            | Ink stain | New York Times | 21 Mar 2017 | 
          
            | Rorschach image | Universal | 16 Mar 2017 | 
          
            | Dark mark | Premier Sunday | 12 Feb 2017 | 
          
            | Rorschach image |  |  | 
          
            | Try to contain, in a way, as a spill |  |  | 
          
            | Splotch |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test shape |  |  | 
          
            | Record flaw |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach image |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test pattern | Wall Street Journal | 29 Nov 2016 | 
          
            | Dark stain | Premier Sunday | 13 Nov 2016 | 
          
            | Stain | The Washington Post | 06 Oct 2016 | 
          
            | Reputation blemish | Universal | 28 Aug 2016 | 
          
            | Result of an ink mishap | Universal | 16 Aug 2016 | 
          
            | Clean, as with paper towels | Family Time | 20 Jun 2016 | 
          
            | Black mark | Universal | 20 May 2016 | 
          
            | Ink spill result | Universal | 27 Apr 2016 | 
          
            | Problem on a record | New York Times | 15 Apr 2016 | 
          
            | Ink stain | LA Times Daily | 13 Apr 2016 | 
          
            | Rorschach test element | New York Times | 08 Feb 2016 | 
          
            | Ink smudge | Family Time | 31 Jan 2016 | 
          
            | Use a paper towel | USA Today | 13 Jan 2016 | 
          
            | Use a paper towel |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation blemish |  |  | 
          
            | Result of an ink mishap |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test element |  |  | 
          
            | Bad thing on a record | New York Times | 27 Dec 2015 | 
          
            | Ink mishap | Newsday | 27 Dec 2015 | 
          
            | Mark found at the bar with old books | Irish Times Crosaire | 12 Dec 2015 | 
          
            | Second-rate auction item — dry piece of writing |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge | Universal | 22 Jul 2015 | 
          
            | Obliterate, with ''out'' | Newsday | 19 Jun 2015 | 
          
            | Record flaw | New York Times | 18 Jun 2015 | 
          
            | Stain | The Telegraph Quick | 06 Jun 2015 | 
          
            | Mark on Bible at the auctioneers | Irish Times Crosaire | 04 Jun 2015 | 
          
            | Ink spill | New York Times | 26 May 2015 | 
          
            | Rorschach figure | Eugene Sheffer | 21 May 2015 | 
          
            | Reputation tarnisher | Wall Street Journal | 03 Apr 2015 | 
          
            | Dab dry | Newsday | 19 Mar 2015 | 
          
            | Black mark |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smear |  |  | 
          
            | Ink mishap |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Dab dry |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach image |  |  | 
          
            | Obliterate, with "out" |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation tarnisher |  |  | 
          
            | Record flaw |  |  | 
          
            | Ink spill |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Bad thing on a record |  |  | 
          
            | Splotch |  |  | 
          
            | You don't want this on your record |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach pic |  |  | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test image |  |  | 
          
            | Printout problem |  |  | 
          
            | Printing mistake |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach image |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up |  |  | 
          
            | Dark mark |  |  | 
          
            | Inky mess |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach image |  |  | 
          
            | Use absorbent paper |  |  | 
          
            | Dry with absorbent paper |  |  | 
          
            | Dab with absorbent paper |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation tarnisher |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test component |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation stain |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach image |  |  | 
          
            | Blemish on one's reputation |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation stain |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach ink mark |  |  | 
          
            | Bad mark |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test feature |  |  | 
          
            | Ink problem |  |  | 
          
            | Clean, as with paper towels |  |  | 
          
            | Negative on your record |  |  | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Bad thing on a record |  |  | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Printing problem |  |  | 
          
            | Black mark |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation blemish |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach mark |  |  | 
          
            | Bad thing on a record |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test feature |  |  | 
          
            | Sponge up |  |  | 
          
            | ___ out (erase) |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test image |  |  | 
          
            | Dab at with a towel, as a spill |  |  | 
          
            | Dab at with a towel, as a spill |  |  | 
          
            | Sponge up |  |  | 
          
            | Stain or disgrace |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Dry, in a way |  |  | 
          
            | Dab gently |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Apply tissue to fresh lipstick, perhaps |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation stain |  |  | 
          
            | Part of a Rorschach test |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Splotch |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach "image" |  |  | 
          
            | Bad mark on one's reputation |  |  | 
          
            | Dry with a paper towel |  |  | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach "image" |  |  | 
          
            | Dab with absorbent paper |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach "image" |  |  | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Black mark |  |  | 
          
            | Too much ink |  |  | 
          
            | Dry, as a spill |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Dry, as a spill |  |  | 
          
            | Deal with spilled milk |  |  | 
          
            | Dark mark |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test component |  |  | 
          
            | Backgammon piece that's alone on its point |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation spoiler |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation blemish |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation ruiner |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation blemish |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach mark |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Use a paper towel |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach pattern |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up liquid |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Use a paper towel |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Backgammon piece that can be sent to the bar |  |  | 
          
            | Remove with absorbent material |  |  | 
          
            | Black mark |  |  | 
          
            | Pick up, in a way |  |  | 
          
            | Smirch |  |  | 
          
            | Pick up, in a way |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation blemish |  |  | 
          
            | Inky mess |  |  | 
          
            | Eclipse, with "out" |  |  | 
          
            | Absorb |  |  | 
          
            | Record ruiner |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Dab dry |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Printer's mistake |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach image |  |  | 
          
            | Escutcheon spoiler |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up liquid, in a way |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test item |  |  | 
          
            | Dark mark |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Dark mark |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test item |  |  | 
          
            | Dry with absorbent paper |  |  | 
          
            | Blemish |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach unit |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach stain |  |  | 
          
            | Eyesore |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test design |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smear |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach ink mark |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test feature |  |  | 
          
            | Part of a Rorschach test |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach image |  |  | 
          
            | Clean, as with paper towels |  |  | 
          
            | Reputation tarnisher |  |  | 
          
            | Ink spot |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach unit |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach test image |  |  | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Moral flaw |  |  | 
          
            | Use absorbent paper |  |  | 
          
            | Ink spot |  |  | 
          
            | Apply tissue to fresh lipstick, perhaps |  |  | 
          
            | Sully |  |  | 
          
            | Inky smear |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Part of a psychological test |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach stain |  |  | 
          
            | You don't want this on your record |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach presentation |  |  | 
          
            | Remove with an absorbant |  |  | 
          
            | See 23 Across |  |  | 
          
            | Fix  as lipstick |  |  | 
          
            | Sponge |  |  | 
          
            | Dab dry |  |  | 
          
            | Stain |  |  | 
          
            | Soil |  |  | 
          
            | Deal with spilled milk |  |  | 
          
            | Disfigurement |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach stain |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up |  |  | 
          
            | Ink accident |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach "art" |  |  | 
          
            | Ink mishap |  |  | 
          
            | Inky smear |  |  | 
          
            | ___ out (erase) |  |  | 
          
            | Dry an inked inscription |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Ink entry |  |  | 
          
            | Delete, with "out" |  |  | 
          
            | Ink ____ |  |  | 
          
            | Ink smudge |  |  | 
          
            | Exposed piece, in backgammon |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up |  |  | 
          
            | Blemish |  |  | 
          
            | Disgrace |  |  | 
          
            | Blemish on one's escutcheon |  |  | 
          
            | Escutcheon problem |  |  | 
          
            | Escutcheon stain |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach item |  |  | 
          
            | Escutcheon's stain |  |  | 
          
            | Moral flaw |  |  | 
          
            | Spot |  |  | 
          
            | Eclipse, with "out" |  |  | 
          
            | Stigma |  |  | 
          
            | A ___ on one's escutcheon |  |  | 
          
            | Escutcheon spoiler |  |  | 
          
            | Be absorbent |  |  | 
          
            | Penman's goof |  |  | 
          
            | Backgammon piece exposed to capture |  |  | 
          
            | Scribe's mishap |  |  | 
          
            | Rorschach's device |  |  | 
          
            | Ink mishap |  |  | 
          
            | Escutcheon décor, at times |  |  | 
          
            | Ink spot |  |  | 
          
            | Escutcheon décor |  |  | 
          
            | Dry the ink |  |  | 
          
            | Inkjet snafu |  |  | 
          
            | Bespatter. |  |  | 
          
            | Stain. |  |  | 
          
            | Eclipse |  |  | 
          
            | Spot of a sort. |  |  | 
          
            | Disgrace. |  |  | 
          
            | Inkspot. |  |  | 
          
            | Smudge. |  |  | 
          
            | Be absorbent. |  |  | 
          
            | Design in Rorschach test |  |  | 
          
            | Unsightly thing. |  |  | 
          
            | Escutcheon stain. |  |  | 
          
            | Eclipse (with "out"). |  |  | 
          
            | Erase (with "out"). |  |  | 
          
            | Blemish. |  |  | 
          
            | Ink spot. |  |  | 
          
            | Escutcheon's stain. |  |  | 
          
            | Smutch. |  |  | 
          
            | Obscure (with "out"). |  |  | 
          
            | Stationery spoiler. |  |  | 
          
            | Mar. |  |  | 
          
            | Darken (with "out"). |  |  | 
          
            | Stain on the escutcheon. |  |  | 
          
            | Cancel (with "out"). |  |  | 
          
            | Fountain pen faux pas. |  |  | 
          
            | The mark on the 'scutcheon. |  |  | 
          
            | Soak up. |  |  | 
          
            | Stigma. |  |  | 
          
            | ___ on the landscape. |  |  | 
          
            | Inkstain. |  |  | 
          
            | Sully. |  |  | 
          
            | Absorb. |  |  | 
          
            | Dry, in a way. |  |  | 
          
            | Splotch. |  |  | 
          
            | Ink stain. |  |  | 
          
            | Ink spatter. |  |  | 
          
            | Black patch. |  |  | 
          
            | "___ on the escutcheon." |  |  | 
          
            | Browning's "___ in the 'Scutcheon." |  |  | 
          
            | "A ___ on the scutcheon."—Cervantes. |  |  |