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
-
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
-
Scrub any stains with a soft sponge or brush.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
This process lifts stains without increasing their surface area, which can be an issue when scrubbing by hand with a cloth or brush.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Simmer until mixture coats the back of a spoon, 1 minute.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Wipe across the screen to remove dirt, spatters, and smudges.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
-
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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Cite this Entry
“Smears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smears. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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