1
as in painted
to rub an oily or sticky substance over
the toddler gleefully smeared her hair and face with maple syrup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in libeled
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
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 smeared
Trudeau wrapped his other arm around Hadrien, who had smeared fake blood on the side of his face.
—
Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
For two hours, the inmate remained on the ground with blood smeared on his forehead and pooling on the ground near his head, according to prosecutors.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
There was plenty of actual life-threatening flooding that left mud smeared on main roads and cars tossed aside like toys.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Robert returns to his desk only to find that Invisigal had stolen him a donut as a gesture of good faith, which is now smeared all over his keyboard for the new janitor, Water Boy, to clean by vomiting H20 on the mess.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Look closely near the corners or edges of the frame for a blurry patch, smeared light, or a soft square that looks slightly out of focus — that’s where the watermark used to be.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Police entered the home on a welfare check and noticed blood smeared on the walls and furniture scattered across the living room.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
The girl, later estimated to be about 15 days old, was completely smeared in mud.
—Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
The recklessness of Netanyahu's government has smeared on Israel's face a stain that will be difficult to erase even with a generation's effort.
—Ehud Barak, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
For two hours, the inmate remained on the ground with blood smeared on his forehead and pooling on the ground near his head, according to prosecutors.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
There was plenty of actual life-threatening flooding that left mud smeared on main roads and cars tossed aside like toys.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Robert returns to his desk only to find that Invisigal had stolen him a donut as a gesture of good faith, which is now smeared all over his keyboard for the new janitor, Water Boy, to clean by vomiting H20 on the mess.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Look closely near the corners or edges of the frame for a blurry patch, smeared light, or a soft square that looks slightly out of focus — that’s where the watermark used to be.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Police entered the home on a welfare check and noticed blood smeared on the walls and furniture scattered across the living room.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
The girl, later estimated to be about 15 days old, was completely smeared in mud.
—Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
The recklessness of Netanyahu's government has smeared on Israel's face a stain that will be difficult to erase even with a generation's effort.
—Ehud Barak, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smeared
Verb
-
Arrange a garland across the table with natural elements and painted gold accents to tie the look together.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The upscale property is housed in a 1950s Portuguese colonial-style building painted the most charming shade of pink.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Each branch is fully coated for a realistic look of snow, and shoppers say the flocking won’t shed throughout the season.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Drizzle salad with 1/4 cup of the Dressing and toss again until evenly coated.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After users online and public figures rushed to show solidarity to Miss Mexico, who many felt had been publicly humiliated, the Thai executive came out to apologize.—
Paula Soria,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
No woman, under any circumstance, deserves to be insulted or humiliated.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Swastikas and other graffiti have been daubed on synagogues and other sites, and security has been heightened at Jewish schools.—
Alex Holmes,
NBC news,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Researchers expected the dogs to pay most attention to the cat doll, particularly when daubed with the feline scent.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
To play disgraced, disbarred and incarcerated South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, The Last Frontier) packed on 40 pounds.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The process, carried out by regional district councils and overseen by the national office, requires disgraced pastors to step away from ministry for at least a year and undergo Christian counseling, according to a 135-page restoration handbook obtained by NBC News.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Dearborn has often been slandered for simply coexisting peacefully, because the truth is, some people are uncomfortable, and frankly upset about seeing church steeples and mosque domes share the same skyline on roads.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Moreno calls accusations ‘slander’ In a statement provided to The Bee, Moreno denied the accusations and said she was being slandered.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
There’s a mildly interesting thread of casting formerly maligned, misunderstood figures like Elizabeth Berkley and Jessica Simpson as clients, but any cultural commentary is overpowered by just how cruel the show is to their characters.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Hours before the game, the Senators were maligned for their lineup choices.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Worn Plastic Containers Are your plastic containers stained, smelly, cracked, half-melted, or turning rough like sandpaper?—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The costume, which has made waves online, features Fox in a pink suit stained with fake blood, meant to resemble the former first lady shortly after the assassination of her husband.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smeared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smeared. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share