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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of smear
Michael Jerome Plunkett
september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Lively has claimed that TAG masterminded a smear campaign against her the same month that the mysterious and disparaging websites about Ghost first surfaced.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Plastic faded the blonde color of butter with age and the lettering smeared away, big thumbprint smearing a lilac hollow through the violet plastic of the power button.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smear
Verb
It was reduced to a white smear that could only be identified from the air.
—Michael Jerome Plunkett
september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Lively has claimed that TAG masterminded a smear campaign against her the same month that the mysterious and disparaging websites about Ghost first surfaced.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
Priscilla has, in turn, smeared Kruse and Fialko with false lies and malicious campaigns.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Plastic faded the blonde color of butter with age and the lettering smeared away, big thumbprint smearing a lilac hollow through the violet plastic of the power button.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smear
Verb
-
Red and white English flags have proliferated along streets and been painted on roads.—
Vitalii Yalahuzian,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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The only scuffing—on shop doors, on the walls of the Métro—had been artfully painted on to make the scenery look appropriately aged.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
-
Kerry Washington isn't here for any Julia Stiles dance slander.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Knox was later convicted of slander against Lumumba.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Pre-treat any stains with a mild stain remover and blot with a dry white cloth to remove as much stain as possible prior to washing.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
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This process lifts stains without increasing their surface area, which can be an issue when scrubbing by hand with a cloth or brush.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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They are made of billions of small chunks of ice and rock coated with other materials such as dust.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Stock image of a frying pan coated with beef tallow.—
Toby Meyjes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Holmes likewise discredited the MS-13 accusation, for which prosecutors relied on the testimony of coöperating witnesses who either contradicted one another or were otherwise unreliable.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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The Cordell report has since been discredited — missing transcripts, factual errors and even confusion of key witnesses.—
Matthew J. Frauenfeld,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Handwringing about hemlines and innuendos aside, these headliners signal an attempt to appeal to the broadest possible audience, throwing curation to the wind in the hopes the fest will be able to recoup their very expensive investment.—
Arielle Gordon,
Pitchfork,
16 Sep. 2025
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Her latest album included a few hits with similar innuendos.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said investigators found palm impressions, smudges and a shoe imprints of the suspect and are hoping to collect to some DNA evidence.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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The outside of these types of receptacles need a bit of buffing with a dry microfiber towel to rid of fingerprints, smudges, and stains.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smear. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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