1The artist's use of bold colors and abstract shapes was meant to conceal the stain on the canvas, but it only seemed to draw attention to it.
2Is it possible to remove the stain of corruption from a political institution, or does it inevitably seep back in?
3The company's reputation was irreparably stained by the scandal, and it never fully recovered.
4The historian's discovery of a previously unknown letter stained the legacy of the celebrated author, revealing a more complex and nuanced personality.
5There is a stain on the fabric of our society that can only be removed through collective effort and a willingness to confront our shared flaws.