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
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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
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Recent Examples of smear
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 2026
Don’t smear any of that mess over here for clout or reputation rehabilitation.
—Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Nov. 2025
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni began in December 2024 when Lively sued him on allegations of misconduct on the set of It Ends with Us — which Baldoni also directed — and a retaliatory smear campaign.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smear
Verb
Don’t smear any of that mess over here for clout or reputation rehabilitation.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 2026
Don’t smear any of that mess over here for clout or reputation rehabilitation.
—Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Noun
The suit accuses four companies from Florida and Arizona of intentionally stifling the campaign, including paying signature-collectors thousands of dollars to sign contracts to stop working, harassing one employee and publishing a smear video against AMT.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Nov. 2025
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni began in December 2024 when Lively sued him on allegations of misconduct on the set of It Ends with Us — which Baldoni also directed — and a retaliatory smear campaign.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smear
Verb
-
Pedro had painted the model in bright colors—red, blue, and yellow—and the circular ballet of the trio against the green jungle didn’t feel out of place; rather, the birds seemed to enjoy the homage being paid to them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Doig is an avid skier and a hockey fan, and often paints alpine scenes.—
Anna Russell,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 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
-
For reasons that are quite possibly too unbearable to contemplate, a large group of American voters was not repulsed by such slander—they were actually aroused by it—and our politics have not been the same.—
Jeffrey Goldberg,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Jaxson Dart’s father will not hear any more slander about his son.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Loloi Millie Gold and Charcoal Area Rug that looks straight out of a thrift store (in a good way), is stain-resistant, pet-friendly, and on sale starting at just $44.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Gently rub the stone over the stains, rinsing often as the soap scum builds up.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sports Equipment While the dishwasher isn't ideal for cleaning baseball caps, uniforms, or equipment heavily-coated with mud, a trip through a dishwasher cycle is ideal to remove bacteria and odors from mouth guards and hard plastic shin guards.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
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The outer layer of the capsule is made from gelatin coated with a layer of cellulose and either molybdenum or tungsten, which blocks any RF signal from being emitted.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Politically, the regime has rotted from within, discarding, discrediting, or detaining its own kind.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2026
-
In this case, focusing on a dress versus the altruistic work Turner is doing feels like an attempt to discredit that very noble work.—
Essence,
Essence,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cheng draws on new research for this book and promises to cut through the propaganda, innuendo, and mystery surrounding the Kims and North Korea.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
But in many ways, the plot comes second to the silly jokes, innuendos, and songs.—
Robbie Griffiths,
NPR,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
In Rush, chalk lines are drawn and partially wiped by hand, leaving behind smudges and residues that hover between being seen and unseen.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
9 Jan. 2026
-
There’s nothing more frustrating than spending time cleaning glass surfaces only to end up with streaks, smudges, or cloudy residue.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smear. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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