smutted; smutting
: to become affected by smut
1
: matter that soils or blackens
specifically
: a particle of soot
2
: any of various destructive diseases especially of cereal grasses caused by parasitic basidiomycetous fungi (order Ustilaginales) and marked by transformation of plant parts into dark masses of spores
also
: a fungus causing a smut
3
: obscene language or matter
Examples of smut in a Sentence
Noun
Smut is not allowed in this house.
obscenity laws that aimed to stamp out smut
Recent Examples on the Web
Aisha Harris, NPR, 21 June 2025
This is bermudagrass smut, a disease that attacks specifically the seed heads in bermuda turf.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 2025
And the high absurdity suits the relatively low stakes behind making, respectively, sketch comedy and soulful smut.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 12 June 2025
Just read a copy of this silly book, and if anyone is curious for a review from someone who lived it first-hand: this book is political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class.
—Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smut
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show current usage.
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Noun
The third act of the infamously schlocky Paul Verhoeven flick Showgirls takes a hard-left turn from being cheese-tastic smut to a harrowing nightmare.
—Aisha Harris, NPR, 21 June 2025
This is bermudagrass smut, a disease that attacks specifically the seed heads in bermuda turf.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 2025
And the high absurdity suits the relatively low stakes behind making, respectively, sketch comedy and soulful smut.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 12 June 2025
Just read a copy of this silly book, and if anyone is curious for a review from someone who lived it first-hand: this book is political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class.
—Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smut
Cite this Entry
“Smut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smut. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smut
1 of 2 verb
smutted; smutting
1
: to stain, soil, or affect (a crop or plant) with smut
2
: to become affected by smut
smut
2 of 2 noun1
: matter that soils or blackens
especially
: a particle of soot
2
: any of various destructive diseases of plants caused by fungi that transform plant organs (as seeds) into dark masses of spores
also
: a fungus that causes a smut
3
: indecent language, pictures, or writing
Medical Definition
smut
noun
: any of various destructive diseases especially of cereal grasses caused by parasitic fungi (order Ustilaginales)
also
: a fungus causing a smut
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