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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
2
as in libelling
to make untrue and harmful statements about
he is willing to smear his opponent if doing so would win the election
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smearing
Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
If the smearing continues, look for a position elsewhere.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smearing
Noun
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Trump has also brought a $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal for its article linking him to the Epstein note.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The defamation case has been delayed while the time for an appeal of the underlying claims runs its course.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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These lengthening formulas prioritize coating each lash sleekly, with no bumps or lumps of product.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
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There is little sugar-coating how Swayman’s season went last year.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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McQueen countersued him on several claims as well, including libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress and intentional interference with contractual or business relationships.—
Evan Mealins,
The Tennessean,
10 Sep. 2025
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Bellis later added $473 million in punitive damages, bringing the total libel judgment to $1,436,620,000—believed to be one of the largest in American history.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Three Bulgarians were suspected of painting red hands on Paris’ Holocaust Memorial in May 2024, with the Paris prosecutor suggesting Russia was behind the crime.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Following his return from Iraq for his second deployment, while living in California, Villareal got into painting motorcycles.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But there is a distinction, Kutwala said, between flying flags from one’s own property and daubing paint across the town.—
Olivia Kemp,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And slandering council members, who publicly supported Madigan before Khadija Walker was nominated, is disrespectful and insulting.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Dental Hygiene Products Ingredients in some oral hygiene products can contribute to tooth staining.—
Ann Pietrangelo,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
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Tips To Keep Your Towels Mascara-Free The best way to keep makeup from staining towels is by thoroughly removing the makeup first.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Prosecutors said that instead of seeking medical treatment when their two-day-old son, Hayden, stopped eating and began to turn pale blue, Blair, 37, and Taylor, 32, relied on praying over their son’s body and anointing him with olive oil.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
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Already, awards prognosticators are anointing it a possible Oscar player in several major categories.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smearing. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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