1
as in to paint
to rub an oily or sticky substance over
the toddler gleefully smeared her hair and face with maple syrup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to libel
to make untrue and harmful statements about
he is willing to smear his opponent if doing so would win the election
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in slander
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of smear
Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
The dog couldn’t go in her room so soon after her transplant, so Aspen dabbed colors on a small canvas and handed it to Scott, who put it in a plastic bag and smeared peanut butter on top.
—Laura Ungar, Fortune, 23 May 2026
Ali Rampling, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Aldridge was offered the role for the rest of its run, but the press immediately undertook a racist smear campaign against him.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for smear
Verb
The dog couldn’t go in her room so soon after her transplant, so Aspen dabbed colors on a small canvas and handed it to Scott, who put it in a plastic bag and smeared peanut butter on top.
—Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
The dog couldn’t go in her room so soon after her transplant, so Aspen dabbed colors on a small canvas and handed it to Scott, who put it in a plastic bag and smeared peanut butter on top.
—Laura Ungar, Fortune, 23 May 2026
Noun
However, over the last few months we have been subjected to a smear campaign targeting one of our players.
—Ali Rampling, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Aldridge was offered the role for the rest of its run, but the press immediately undertook a racist smear campaign against him.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for smear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smear
Verb
-
In Park Slope, fans ended the day the way many New Yorkers did, celebrating with strangers over a pint in a city painted blue and orange.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
McCarthy doesn’t paint Alex and Ethan as perfect allies or perfect victims, instead choosing to explore the shortcomings in their friendship through mostly gender-neutral growing pains.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2025
-
As a new, inexpensive Chevrolet appeared in 1927 and The Dearborn Independent was sued for libeling a number of Jewish businessmen, Ford threw in the towel and apologized.—
George Pendle,
airmail.news,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The French influencer Eros Brousson strikes again – this time with Waffle House slander.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 June 2026
-
The slander towards the course throughout the week was aplenty, and warranted.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Cleaning Pots And Pans Coffee grounds are a natural abrasive and can be added to any dish soap and water combo to scrub away pesky scum and food stains.—
Joey Skladany,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
-
Next, apply a lipstick or lip stain with a matte finish—ideally patted on with your fingers—to finish it off.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Thoroughly coat the inside of the bucket with baby powder.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
17 June 2026
-
Simply coat your protein an hour or two before cooking to yield tender, juicy bites.—
Joey Skladany,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Instead, they are encouraged to view blue zones primarily through the lens of a sloppy critique that has already been discredited.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
20 June 2026
-
This doesn’t discredit the fact that mental and physical changes from menopause can be disorienting and jarring.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Just attack and make all kinds of innuendo and attacks with no substance.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
-
Yes, a few zingers hit their target, and some sly innuendoes tap into He-Man’s gay following.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
There are faint smudges of pastel crayon on the wall and carved profanities with paint chips revealing the previous cerulean walls.—
Ashley Andreou,
STAT,
22 June 2026
-
Between sunscreen smudges, salty beach days, and long afternoons by the pool, your favorite shades are exposed to everything the season has to offer.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smear. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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