View synonyms for

smear

[ smeer ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to spread or daub (an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance) on or over something:
to smear butter on bread.
to spread or daub an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance on:
to smear bread with butter.
to stain, spot, or make dirty with something oily, greasy, viscous, or wet.
to sully, vilify, or soil (a reputation, good name, etc.).
to smudge or blur, as by rubbing:
The signature was smeared.
Slang. to defeat decisively; overwhelm:
They smeared the home team.

noun

an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance, especially a dab of such a substance.
a stain, spot, or mark made by such a substance.
a smudge.
something smeared or to be smeared on a thing, as a glaze for pottery.
a small quantity of something spread thinly on a slide for microscopic examination.
vilification:
a smear by a cheap gossip columnist.

smear

/ ��ɪə /

verb

to bedaub or cover with oil, grease, etc
to rub over or apply thickly
to rub so as to produce a smudge
to slander
slang.
to defeat completely
intr to be or become smeared or dirtied

noun

a dirty mark or smudge
1. a slanderous attack
2. ( as modifier )
  smear tactics
a preparation of blood, secretions, etc, smeared onto a glass slide for examination under a microscope

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Derived Forms

ˈ��𲹰��, noun

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Other Word Forms

��𲹰�İ� noun
�ܲ�·��𲹰�� adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of smear¹

before 900; (v.) Middle English smeren, smirien to rub with fat, anoint, Old English smirian, smerian, smerwan; cognate with Dutch smeren, German schmieren, Old Norse smyrja, smyrwa; (noun) in current senses derivative of the v.; compare obsolete smear fat, grease, ointment, Middle English smere, Old English smeoru, cognate with Dutch smear, German Schmer, Old Norse ��ǫ�� grease, Greek ��ý�� rubbing powder; emery

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Word History and Origins

Origin of smear¹

Old English smeoru (n); related to Old Norse ��ö�� fat, Old High German smero, Greek muron ointment

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Labour sources have dismissed the claim and say the Tories are "smearing" a "highly qualified, respected candidate".

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In other words, the Hegseth smear campaign continues, but now it takes on a different hue: The target this time is all Iran hawks.

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Whistleblowers and sources I represent have been smeared, ruined professionally, terminated, criminally investigated, prosecuted and jailed for far less serious disclosures, and ones that were in the public interest to boot.

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Such features can then fall below the resolution of the network, meaning they will smear out in the data.

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Labour MP and former minister Tulip Siddiq has accused the Bangladeshi authorities of a "politically motivated smear campaign" after they issued an arrest warrant against her.

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Related Words

SME smear campaign

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