1
a
: a viscous or sticky substance
b
: a spot made by or as if by an unctuous or adhesive substance
2
3
: a usually unsubstantiated charge or accusation against a person or organization
—often used attributively
a smear campaign
a smear job
smeared; smearing; smears
1
a
: to overspread with something unctuous, viscous, or adhesive : daub
smeared the paper with glue
b
: to spread over a surface
2
3
: to obliterate, obscure, blur, blend, wipe out, or defeat by or as if by smearing
smearer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of smear in a Sentence
Noun
The blood smear revealed malaria.
Verb
The children smeared the window with fingerprints.
She smeared jam on her toast.
Butter was smeared all over the counter.
Her mascara smeared when she cried.
Recent Examples on the Web
Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Why were there bloody smears on the steering wheel and around the outside of the vehicle?
—USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
Identify and destroy spotted lanternfly eggs The egg masses can be found on tree trunks and look like a smear of mud.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024
Curiously, the suitcases were stained with blood smears.
—USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
In January, after the city tried and failed to find another radiology group as a replacement, the city discontinued breast and cervical cancer screenings at the clinic entirely, including mammograms, clinical breast exams and pap smears, city health officials have said.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024
When the brawlers slice the air, smears of paint streak across the frame.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Pickled cranberries, candied pepitas and blue cheese nestle into a decadent smear of butternut squash lined with streaks of hot honey.
—The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2024
Now, imagine this: your settings are slightly off, or perhaps there's a blind spot, even a smear on your lens that alters your view without your knowledge.
—Kathy Miller Perkins, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
The Editors, National Review, 12 Apr. 2024
The two kissed that night after Turner smeared birthday cupcake frosting on his lips and asked Nist for clean-up help.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Another glove, smeared with blood, was found at his home.
—CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
All of my quantum information is smeared on this hologram.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
The church has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in that lawsuit, and Masterson dismissed it as an attempt to smear Scientology when it was first filed in 2017.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Since its conception in 1999, the Nars blush has been smashed and smeared across magazine pages, endured the chaos backstage at Fashion Week, and traveled across the globe in the handbags of beauty lovers.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 1 Apr. 2024
Use your finger to place the drops, then smear them gently and wait for the liquid to dry.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Those entering Rainbow Terrace Adult Day Health Care Center on Monday had no choice: Their faces would be smeared with colorful powder.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Calliope Hummingbird – One of the smallest hummingbirds in the U.S. the calliope has magenta smears on its throat with pale green on the sides.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Why were there bloody smears on the steering wheel and around the outside of the vehicle?
—USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
Identify and destroy spotted lanternfly eggs The egg masses can be found on tree trunks and look like a smear of mud.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024
Curiously, the suitcases were stained with blood smears.
—USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
In January, after the city tried and failed to find another radiology group as a replacement, the city discontinued breast and cervical cancer screenings at the clinic entirely, including mammograms, clinical breast exams and pap smears, city health officials have said.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024
When the brawlers slice the air, smears of paint streak across the frame.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Pickled cranberries, candied pepitas and blue cheese nestle into a decadent smear of butternut squash lined with streaks of hot honey.
—The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2024
Now, imagine this: your settings are slightly off, or perhaps there's a blind spot, even a smear on your lens that alters your view without your knowledge.
—Kathy Miller Perkins, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Verb
The provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) at issue is not the one exploited by Obama-era FBI leadership, in collusion with the Hillary Clinton campaign, to smear Trump as a Putin puppet.
—The Editors, National Review, 12 Apr. 2024
The two kissed that night after Turner smeared birthday cupcake frosting on his lips and asked Nist for clean-up help.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Another glove, smeared with blood, was found at his home.
—CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
All of my quantum information is smeared on this hologram.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
The church has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in that lawsuit, and Masterson dismissed it as an attempt to smear Scientology when it was first filed in 2017.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Since its conception in 1999, the Nars blush has been smashed and smeared across magazine pages, endured the chaos backstage at Fashion Week, and traveled across the globe in the handbags of beauty lovers.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 1 Apr. 2024
Use your finger to place the drops, then smear them gently and wait for the liquid to dry.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Those entering Rainbow Terrace Adult Day Health Care Center on Monday had no choice: Their faces would be smeared with colorful powder.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near smear
Cite this Entry
“Smear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smear. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smear
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to spread with something oily or sticky
b
: to spread over a surface
2
a
: to stain, smudge, or dirty by or as if by smearing
b
: to harm the reputation of
3
: to blot out or blur by or as if by smearing
smearer
noun
Medical Definition
smear
1 of 2 noun
: material spread on a surface (as of a microscopic slide)
also
: a preparation made by spreading material on a surface see pap smear, vaginal smear
smear
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to prepare as a smear for microscopic examination : make a smear of
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share