1
as in paints
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 libels
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smears
Verb
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While some, perhaps most, of Spicoli’s behavior paints him as the imperfect role model, there is something to be gleaned from the surfer bro’s rebellion.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025 -
Now Blitzer’s reporting paints a vivid—and horrifying—portrait of the lives that have been upended by the Administration’s most cruel policies.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Removing Stains From Linoleum Floors Linoleum floors can get stains and discoloration from heavy foot traffic, food spills, pets, or heavy furniture that's been sitting on them for some time.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
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Still, sometimes the heat is impossible to ignore — evident in the small sweat stains on Dinkel’s blue collared shirt.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This finicky, formal style coats every page of the novel with an impressively even surface that doesn’t serve any deeper spiritual purpose.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
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Simmer until mixture coats the back of a spoon, 1 minute.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Wipe across the screen to remove dirt, spatters, and smudges.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
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Even our unimpressive ancestors, which appear as tiny flukelike fossil smudges in the rocks, and which bear the first tentative hints of a backbone, make a cameo here.—
Peter Brannen
August 28,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
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“Smears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smears. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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