1
as in to paint
to rub an oily or sticky substance over
the toddler gleefully smeared her hair and face with maple syrup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to libel
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
1
as in slander
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of smear
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
At the entrance of Kollparay, Quispe pauses, taking my hands and smearing them with soil—the soil of her village.
—
Paola Miglio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 June 2026
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 June 2026
The photo surfaced amid what social users have alleged to be a smear campaign against Williams.
—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for smear
Verb
The costume—doofy top hat, smeared white paint—suggested full commitment to the bit.
—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
At the entrance of Kollparay, Quispe pauses, taking my hands and smearing them with soil—the soil of her village.
—
Paola Miglio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 June 2026
Noun
Add a smear of Irish butter for the perfect start to your day.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 June 2026
The photo surfaced amid what social users have alleged to be a smear campaign against Williams.
—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for smear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smear
Verb
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To add interest and frame the berries, the index and pinky nails are painted in pink-and-white checkers.
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Mamdani sought to paint a picture of division in the country as a tool of the rich and powerful.
Verb
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Kiryl Pazniak, 49, who hosted a popular political show on YouTube, has been convicted on the charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist organization, the group said — accusations widely used by authorities to stifle critical voices.
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Green said earlier this year that Adebayo shouldn’t be underestimated and his 83-point game against Washington shouldn’t be discredited.
Noun
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The French influencer Eros Brousson strikes again – this time with Waffle House slander.
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The slander towards the course throughout the week was aplenty, and warranted.
Noun
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The puncture left a hole in his sock between his big and middle toes, where a red stain formed.
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The latter would put a permanent stain on the 2026 World Cup and potentially damage the future of the sport in the United States.
Verb
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But the real pleasure is the 303 basslines that squirm in between the drums, coating the soundscapes of the tracks in grime and noxious soot.
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Morning mist coated the nearby Rhone River that snakes through the Alpine valley as worshippers flocked in.
Noun
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Top United Nations official Vanessa Frazier is facing a furious backlash after spreading a sick, fake-news blood libel against Israel on social media.
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The complaint stated that Meta has declined to file a libel or defamation claim against Wynn-Williams.
Noun
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There’s nothing more frustrating than spending time cleaning glass surfaces only to end up with streaks, smudges, or cloudy residue.
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These will ensure that your skin stays moisturized all day and that your contour won’t slip, pill, or smudge.
Verb
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As part of her job, Angèle needs to daub makeup on the models’ feet, blistered from the torturous heels they’re forced to wear.
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One of them, at the centre of a group outside Ex Convento del Carmen, has been thickly daubed with red paint, as if to look like blood.
Cite this Entry
“Smear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smear. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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