to smudge / blur
Loading your saved state.
to smudge
To make something, such as writing, a drawing, or paint, unclear or illegible by rubbing or wiping.
Die Tinte war noch nicht trocken und ich habe den letzten Satz mit der Hand verwischt.
The ink was not dry yet, and I smudged the last sentence with my hand.
to blur
In a figurative sense, to make the boundaries or differences between things unclear, or to remove traces in order to hide something.
Der Täter versuchte, seine Spuren am Tatort zu verwischen.
The perpetrator tried to blur his tracks at the crime scene.
to become blurred
To become unclear or indistinct, such as a memory or the outlines of something in the distance.
Mit der Zeit verwischen sich die Erinnerungen an die Kindheit.
Over time, memories of childhood become blurred.
'Verwischen' (to smudge / blur) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' here often indicates an unclear or negative result of wiping and always remains attached to the verb.
Ich habe aus Versehen deine Notizen verwischt.
I accidentally smudged your notes.
In the figurative sense, 'verwischen' (to blur) is often used with abstract nouns. The most common expressions are 'Spuren verwischen' (to cover one's tracks), 'Grenzen verwischen' (to blur boundaries), and 'Unterschiede verwischen' (to blur differences).
Durch die Globalisierung verwischen die kulturellen Grenzen immer mehr.
Because of globalization, cultural boundaries are becoming more and more blurred.
When something becomes unclear on its own, the reflexive form 'sich verwischen' is used. The subject is then the thing that becomes indistinct, for example 'Erinnerungen' (memories) or 'Konturen' (outlines).
Im Nebel verwischten sich die Konturen der Häuser.
In the fog, the outlines of the houses became blurred.
to cover up
Vertuschen refers to concealing a negative incident as a whole and can include removing evidence. Verwischen, on the other hand, emphasizes making the traces by which something could be recognized indistinct or removing them. When the whole act is at issue, vertuschen is the better choice; when its evidence is at issue, verwischen fits.
Die Verantwortlichen wollten ihre Tat verbergen und verwischten deshalb die Spuren.
Those responsible wanted to hide what they had done and therefore wiped away the traces.
Die Verantwortlichen wollten den Unfall vertuschen und meldeten ihn nicht.
Those responsible wanted to cover up the accident and did not report it.
