1
a
: a viscous or sticky substance
b
: a spot made by or as if by an unctuous or adhesive substance
2
3
: a usually unsubstantiated charge or accusation against a person or organization
—often used attributively
a smear campaign
a smear job
smeared; smearing; smears
1
a
: to overspread with something unctuous, viscous, or adhesive : daub
smeared the paper with glue
b
: to spread over a surface
2
3
: to obliterate, obscure, blur, blend, wipe out, or defeat by or as if by smearing
smearer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of smear in a Sentence
Noun
The blood smear revealed malaria.
Verb
The children smeared the window with fingerprints.
She smeared jam on her toast.
Butter was smeared all over the counter.
Her mascara smeared when she cried.
Recent Examples on the Web
Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024
Curiously, the suitcases were stained with blood smears.
—USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
In January, after the city tried and failed to find another radiology group as a replacement, the city discontinued breast and cervical cancer screenings at the clinic entirely, including mammograms, clinical breast exams and pap smears, city health officials have said.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024
When the brawlers slice the air, smears of paint streak across the frame.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Pickled cranberries, candied pepitas and blue cheese nestle into a decadent smear of butternut squash lined with streaks of hot honey.
—The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2024
Now, imagine this: your settings are slightly off, or perhaps there's a blind spot, even a smear on your lens that alters your view without your knowledge.
—Kathy Miller Perkins, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Fretwell told the publication that satellite images showed reddish-brown smears on the otherwise colorless ice.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024
But the biggest blob, a red oblong smear, stretches out over the Los Angeles valley like molten lava.
—Malia Wollan, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2024
Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 1 Apr. 2024
Use your finger to place the drops, then smear them gently and wait for the liquid to dry.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Those entering Rainbow Terrace Adult Day Health Care Center on Monday had no choice: Their faces would be smeared with colorful powder.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
There was also many misrepresentations and falsehoods created in my opinion to smear my character.
—Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
Image Sometimes the overdose deaths look like murders, such as the case of a man who was found with wounds all over his back sitting in a bathroom smeared with blood.
—Natalie Kitroeff Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024
In her desperately flawed case against Donald Trump, in her sense of umbrage when caught engaging in flagrantly unprofessional conduct, in her dishonesty, and in her willingness to smear her critics, the district attorney of Fulton County, Ga., is a perfect representative of the resistance.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 18 Mar. 2024
The opening minutes linger on an ominous shot of Joy’s bicycle abandoned in the middle of the road, front wheel bent and blood smeared over its pedals.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
Next, pat each egg dry with a paper towel, but be careful not to rub or wipe the egg's surface, as this might smear or remove the dye from the shell.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Identify and destroy spotted lanternfly eggs The egg masses can be found on tree trunks and look like a smear of mud.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024
Curiously, the suitcases were stained with blood smears.
—USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
In January, after the city tried and failed to find another radiology group as a replacement, the city discontinued breast and cervical cancer screenings at the clinic entirely, including mammograms, clinical breast exams and pap smears, city health officials have said.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024
When the brawlers slice the air, smears of paint streak across the frame.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Pickled cranberries, candied pepitas and blue cheese nestle into a decadent smear of butternut squash lined with streaks of hot honey.
—The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2024
Now, imagine this: your settings are slightly off, or perhaps there's a blind spot, even a smear on your lens that alters your view without your knowledge.
—Kathy Miller Perkins, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Fretwell told the publication that satellite images showed reddish-brown smears on the otherwise colorless ice.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024
But the biggest blob, a red oblong smear, stretches out over the Los Angeles valley like molten lava.
—Malia Wollan, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2024
Verb
Since its conception in 1999, the Nars blush has been smashed and smeared across magazine pages, endured the chaos backstage at Fashion Week, and traveled across the globe in the handbags of beauty lovers.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 1 Apr. 2024
Use your finger to place the drops, then smear them gently and wait for the liquid to dry.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Those entering Rainbow Terrace Adult Day Health Care Center on Monday had no choice: Their faces would be smeared with colorful powder.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
There was also many misrepresentations and falsehoods created in my opinion to smear my character.
—Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
Image Sometimes the overdose deaths look like murders, such as the case of a man who was found with wounds all over his back sitting in a bathroom smeared with blood.
—Natalie Kitroeff Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024
In her desperately flawed case against Donald Trump, in her sense of umbrage when caught engaging in flagrantly unprofessional conduct, in her dishonesty, and in her willingness to smear her critics, the district attorney of Fulton County, Ga., is a perfect representative of the resistance.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 18 Mar. 2024
The opening minutes linger on an ominous shot of Joy’s bicycle abandoned in the middle of the road, front wheel bent and blood smeared over its pedals.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
Next, pat each egg dry with a paper towel, but be careful not to rub or wipe the egg's surface, as this might smear or remove the dye from the shell.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near smear
Cite this Entry
“Smear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smear. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smear
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to spread with something oily or sticky
b
: to spread over a surface
2
a
: to stain, smudge, or dirty by or as if by smearing
b
: to harm the reputation of
3
: to blot out or blur by or as if by smearing
smearer
noun
Medical Definition
smear
1 of 2 noun
: material spread on a surface (as of a microscopic slide)
also
: a preparation made by spreading material on a surface see pap smear, vaginal smear
smear
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to prepare as a smear for microscopic examination : make a smear of
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