The term CROSSWORD SOLVER'S SMUDGES can be summarized as ERASURES, which is an 8-letter word. Erasures are the smudges left behind by crossword solvers when they make mistakes while solving a crossword puzzle. These smudges are usually made with a pencil or pen and can be difficult to remove. Crossword solvers often use erasures to correct their mistakes and make sure that their answers are correct.