smears 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of smear
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

smears

2 of 2

noun

plural of smear
1
as in slanders

Related Words
2
as in stains

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of smears
Verb
In other words, the show is a celebration of America’s 250th birthday, but one that smears a little cake on the country’s face. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 27 June 2026 This chilling, starkly beautiful ambient piece draws Nebraska’s marginal whispers to the forefront and smears them across the picture plane. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026 The five pieces offer, in turn, biomorphic hints of de Kooning, the ragged shapes of Clyfford Still, the bold geometries of Ellsworth Kelly, the paint smears of Gerhard Richter, and something that looks like toothpaste squeezed onto an orange peel. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025 Teachers Union leader Randi Weingarten smears Trump voters as fascists! — The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smears
  1. paints
  2. insinuations
  3. stains
  4. coats
  5. aspersions
  6. smudges
  7. anoints
  8. blots
Verb
  • That’s been heartbreaking for some PlayStation collectors, and taken with the mass layoffs at Xbox, this particular moment paints a troubling picture for the future of video games and their production overall.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 July 2026
  • The Harris Poll, conducted between June 17–22, paints a picture of a fandom economy splitting in two.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of paints
Noun
  • Conservative Justices, bristling at insinuations of bias or partisanship, like to point to the significant share of cases that are decided unanimously.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
  • Believing our conduct improper, the villagers began to make insinuations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
Definition of insinuations
Noun
  • Orkin recommends inspecting hotel rooms before unpacking by checking mattresses and furniture for live bugs, shed skins, tiny eggs or dark, ink-like stains.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Online photos from the home’s listing posted on the Good Neighbors Investors website in 2024 show dark stains and mold across the walls and floor of the home.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of stains
Verb
  • Mold still coats the walls along with holes in the ceiling.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • The rich blend of shea butter, murumuru butter, coconut oil, and vitamin C coats lips in lasting moisture overnight.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026
Definition of coats
Noun
  • Amid aspersions and attack ads, the pair nearly came to blows at a community debate.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
  • Not Calvin Klein casting gay aspersions!
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of aspersions
Noun
  • There’s nothing more frustrating than spending time cleaning glass surfaces only to end up with streaks, smudges, or cloudy residue.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
  • There are faint smudges of pastel crayon on the wall and carved profanities with paint chips revealing the previous cerulean walls.
    — Ashley Andreou, STAT, 22 June 2026
Definition of smudges
Verb
  • In a city that continually anoints anoints new noteworthies in the hospitality space, The Connaught remains one of London’s long-lasting greats.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The episode officially anoints a new captain for the 118 — and sees Harry considering a life fighting fires.
    — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025
Definition of anoints
Noun
  • Dabbing the cloth in rubbing alcohol, working away the dirty blots on the glass, waiting for the haze in my head to focus, and a new line to come to me.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • One of the few blots on last summer’s Leeds copybook.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
Definition of blots

Browse Nearby Words

smearing
smears
smell
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Cite this Entry

“Smears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smears. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on smears

Nglish: Translation of smears for Spanish Speakers

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