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
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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
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Recent Examples of smeared
Investigators found blood on a windowsill outside the first-floor condo and more blood smeared on the walls and windows, the DA's office said.
—
Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
And he has absolutely been falsely called and smeared as a racist.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Robert Pattinson is unrecognizable with a long blonde hair transformation and lipstick smeared all over his face in a new photoshoot.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026
Outdated Vanity Lights Is your vanity light caked in dust and smeared with eight different paint colors from two decades of DIY paint jobs?
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
This dip is best smeared on slices of crostini.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Tears and lemonade are spilled; mud and cake get smeared into the rug; confetti balloons are popped one by one, showering elated children in rainbow-paper flakes.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
His nose is smeared with a white strip of sun cream.
—Molly Aitken, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Their clothes are smeared with mud, symbolizing the earthy, devotional spirit of the journey.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
And he has absolutely been falsely called and smeared as a racist.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Robert Pattinson is unrecognizable with a long blonde hair transformation and lipstick smeared all over his face in a new photoshoot.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026
Outdated Vanity Lights Is your vanity light caked in dust and smeared with eight different paint colors from two decades of DIY paint jobs?
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
This dip is best smeared on slices of crostini.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Tears and lemonade are spilled; mud and cake get smeared into the rug; confetti balloons are popped one by one, showering elated children in rainbow-paper flakes.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
His nose is smeared with a white strip of sun cream.
—Molly Aitken, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Their clothes are smeared with mud, symbolizing the earthy, devotional spirit of the journey.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smeared
Verb
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The gelled look embellished her bronzy visage, painted by Naoko Sofia Patrizia Scintu.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
23 Feb. 2026
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The blue and red murals of stars and Mount Rushmore that the crews painted remain all these years later above the lockers used in filming.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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White fish is coated in a draft beer batter to create these crispy fillets, which can be served with fries or between bread for a convenient weekday meal.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
25 Feb. 2026
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Toss until fully coated, then mold it into a nugget shape and place it on a lined baking sheet.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the dormitory, the classroom, and on the football team, where Negroes were allowed only to be linebackers, he was humiliated.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
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Still, Friday ranked as one of the most unexpected breakdowns in international sports since Germany humiliated host Brazil, 7-1, at the 2014 soccer World Cup.—
Bora Erden,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Place de la République in Paris was daubed in swastikas and anti-Semitic slogans last Sunday after a neo-Nazi rally, and offices of France Unbowed have been attacked.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Ryvchin, whose former home was daubed with antisemitic language and cars were set alight earlier this year, said both Australia’s federal government and provincial leaders in the state of New South Wales had failed to act on proposals to curb antisemitic violence.—
Katie Silver,
NBC news,
25 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Mandelson, known for his ability to spin stories and reënter the fold, has been disgraced before.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
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More Epstein fallout At least six more co-conspirators may be in a trove of documents related to disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein, according to two House members who've pushed for their release.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Now, the ultimate question of whether Walters slandered Miller will return to the district court.—
Dale Denwalt,
Oklahoman,
29 Jan. 2026
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Jerry Jones slandered my name to Cowboys media and national media for months.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And though Milan’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena has been much maligned, for barely being ready in time for the hockey tournament, its acoustics met the moment.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
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Is Spider-Man 3 fairly or unfairly maligned?—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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However, stuffing stinky or stained items away for months is a surefire way to permanently damage them.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
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Moldy plastic food containers can be reused after proper cleaning unless they are cracked, pitted, or heavily stained by mold.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smeared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smeared. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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