Synonyms of smearing

smearing 1 of 2

noun

as in defamation

the making of false statements that damage another's reputation

this smearing has got to stop, or the voters will conclude that there's absolutely no one worth voting for

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defamation
• libel
• defaming
• libeling
• criticism
• blackening
• slander
• smear
• calumny
• vilification
• attack
• abuse
• maligning
• vilifying
• censure
• traducing
• contempt
• character assassination
• mud
• calumniation
• aspersing
• malice
• innuendo
• aspersion
• disdain
• backbiting
• detraction
• maliciousness
• invective
• spite
• denunciation
• vituperation
• scorn
• denigration
• disparagement
• muck
• spitefulness
• hatchet job
• venom
• hatefulness
• malevolence
• meanness
• malignancy
• belittlement
• malignity
• viciousness
• despite
• spleen
• nastiness
• cattiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praise
• respect
• applause
• commendation
• acclaim
• esteem
• honor
• flattery
• worship
• accolade
• reverence
• adoration
• veneration
• adulation

smearing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of smear

1

as in coating

to rub an oily or sticky substance over

the toddler gleefully smeared her hair and face with maple syrup

Synonyms & Similar Words

• coating
• painting
• daubing
• staining
• plastering
• anointing
• besmearing
• bedaubing
• smudging
• dirtying
• greasing
• oiling
• soiling
• besmirching
• blackening
• tarring
• sullying
• gumming
• mucking
• muddying
• larding
• fouling
• befouling
• miring
• pitching
• smirching
• griming
• gauming
• bemiring
• begriming

2

as in libeling

to make untrue and harmful statements about

he is willing to smear his opponent if doing so would win the election

Synonyms & Similar Words

• libeling
• slandering
• maligning
• disgracing
• discrediting
• defaming
• vilifying
• humiliating
• blackening
• calumniating
• denigrating
• shaming
• disparaging
• traducing
• detracting
• belittling
• aspersing
• degrading
• dishonoring
• disdaining
• debasing
• humbling
• scorning
• abasing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• honoring
• praising
• exalting
• glorifying
• commending
• applauding
• respecting
• admiring
• regarding
• acclaiming
• worshipping
• esteeming
• adoring
• venerating
• revering

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of smearing

Noun

The week before, following a win at Washington, Fleck was captured on camera smearing linebacker Maverick Baranowski's blood on his face. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

This results in minor smearing or ghosting during some fast-moving scenes. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026

So far, several celebrities have been tied to the smearing. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026

Whereas the initial narrowband signal might have a strong power across just a few frequencies, the smearing spreads that power across more frequencies, reducing the strength of the signal. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026

Black inks for the same printers tend to have less obvious smearing than the color ink, and many smear just enough to see a smudge, without harming readability. — PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025

If the smearing continues, look for a position elsewhere. — Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025

Verb

None of this excuses Chris’ malicious behavior, not just toward Carrie but toward her future stepsister, Brooklyn (Rowan Danielle), and the school as a whole, mostly via a fake Instagram account devoted to smearing students and faculty alike. — ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026

Disliking someone is an opinion — smearing their reputation is something else. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2026

Yet what follows is an extended list of ethical sins, with a focus on the sins of abusive speech, such as slandering, slurring, slighting and smearing the reputations of others. — Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

People have gone from smearing the compound on their faces to using injections, in hopes of achieving firmer, wrinkle-free skin and other anti-aging benefits. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026

At the entrance of Kollparay, Quispe pauses, taking my hands and smearing them with soil—the soil of her village. — Paola Miglio, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026

This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 June 2026

While being held at the Independence Police Department’s detention unit, Ashley allegedly damaged the inside of a cell by smearing feces and blood on the walls and floor. — Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026

In 2012, the gossip site Gawker, infamous for smearing conservative activists, published embarrassing footage of Hogan that had been secretly recorded and had no legitimate news value. — George Harris, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026