SMEAR Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

smear 1 of 2

verb

Definition of smear

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

Relevance

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

smear

2 of 2

noun

as in slander

Related Words

as in stain

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

vision

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of smear

Verb

Sweat glistened on the white foundation smeared across her face. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 One prank involved Quan, Capshaw, and Harrison Ford surprising Spielberg with ice cream smeared all over their faces for one take. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2026

Noun

An international mission in March documented escalating police violence, smear campaigns fueled by public officials, persistent impunity, legal and digital threats and the ruling party's efforts to tighten its grip over the media, CPJ said. — Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026 This smear is described mathematically by a wave function which, like a classical wave, has peaks and troughs. — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smear

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smear

Verb

The coffin is painted bright green and black, to represent the logo colors for the haunted house.

— Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Newsom’s critics have long tried to paint the governor as lax on crime as concerns about homelessness and petty crime reached a fever pitch during the pandemic as videos of public smash-and-grabs in cities like San Francisco went viral.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of paint

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

Definition of libel

Noun

David Brouillette denied the allegations in court filings and accused the unnamed ex-wife of slander, the AP reports, but she was granted a temporary protective order on behalf of the daughter in 2021.

— Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
The French influencer Eros Brousson strikes again – this time with Waffle House slander.

— Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026

Definition of slander

Verb

There are six packets of seaweed snacks that are very lightly coated in a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce.

— Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026
The scientific payoff that followed included remote-sensing work that confirmed Bennu's surface is coated in carbon-bearing compounds.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of coat

Verb

There are growing concerns from Congress and observers that the election will take place in a hostile environment and efforts to discredit and undermine the election are already underway.

— Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
The few instances of panic were magnified by newspapers eager to discredit the new medium of radio.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of discredit

Noun

Similar to modern innuendo, phallic imagery was sometimes used to subvert taboos and humorously challenge norms.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
There’s a lot of clever innuendo as the other women question its function and design.

— Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of innuendo

Noun

From there, the brief was classic French-girl glam, which included a smudge of the New Smoky eye palette and brown Stylo Yeux liner on Rubin’s upper and lower lash line.

— Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026
Clean regularly because frequent care keeps stainless steel bright and reduces smudges.

— Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of smudge

Browse Nearby Words

smatters

smear

smeared

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Smear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smear. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of smear

verb

noun

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