smear

²smear

verb

Definition of SMEAR

transitive verb

1

a : to overspread with something unctuous, viscous, or adhesive : daub <smeared the paper with glue> b : to spread over a surface

2

a : to stain, smudge, or dirty by or as if by smearing b : sully, besmirch; specifically : to vilify especially by secretly and maliciously spreading grave charges and imputations

3

: to obliterate, obscure, blur, blend, wipe out, or defeat by or as if by smearing

— smear·er noun

Examples of SMEAR

1. The children smeared the window with fingerprints.
2. She smeared jam on her toast.
3. Butter was smeared all over the counter.
4. Her mascara smeared when she cried.

First Known Use of SMEAR

before 12th century

Related to SMEAR

Synonyms: anoint, bedaub, besmear, daub

Related Words: coat, paint, plaster; grease, oil; gum, lard, pitch, tar; befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, dirty, foul, gaum [dialect], grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully

Near Antonyms: exalt, glorify, honor; acclaim, applaud, commend, praise; esteem, respect; admire, regard; adore, revere, venerate, worship

see all synonyms and antonyms

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