smear

smear

verb

Definition of SMEAR

1

to rub an oily or sticky substance over <the toddler gleefully smeared her hair and face with maple syrup>

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

2

to make untrue and harmful statements about <he is willing to smear his opponent if doing so would win the election>

Synonyms asperse, blacken, calumniate, defame, libel, malign, smear, traduce, vilify

Related Words belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage; discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame; abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate; disdain, scorn

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