as in defamation
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation
this smearing has got to stop, or the voters will conclude that there's absolutely no one worth voting for
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in coating
to rub an oily or sticky substance over
the toddler gleefully smeared her hair and face with maple syrup
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in libelling
to make untrue and harmful statements about
he is willing to smear his opponent if doing so would win the election
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smearing
Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
If the smearing continues, look for a position elsewhere.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Ciarlo has been a beauty aficionado from her early age of sneaking into her mother's makeup drawer and smearing Joker-esque lipstick on her face.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smearing
Noun
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Trump has also brought a $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal for its article linking him to the Epstein note.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The defamation case has been delayed while the time for an appeal of the underlying claims runs its course.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Over time, learning something new may also help thicken myelin, which is the layer of protein coating the neurons in your brain.—
Ayana Underwood,
SELF,
15 Sep. 2025
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These lengthening formulas prioritize coating each lash sleekly, with no bumps or lumps of product.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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McQueen countersued him on several claims as well, including libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress and intentional interference with contractual or business relationships.—
Evan Mealins,
The Tennessean,
10 Sep. 2025
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Bellis later added $473 million in punitive damages, bringing the total libel judgment to $1,436,620,000—believed to be one of the largest in American history.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The harsh dye folded between the body of her dark brown hair, painting parts of unexpected strands.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
19 Sep. 2025
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Vincent van Gogh’s painting Poppy Flowers, valued at around $55 million, was stolen from Cairo’s Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum in 1977, recovered two years later, then stolen again in 2010.—
Charlene Gubash,
NBC news,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But there is a distinction, Kutwala said, between flying flags from one’s own property and daubing paint across the town.—
Olivia Kemp,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And slandering council members, who publicly supported Madigan before Khadija Walker was nominated, is disrespectful and insulting.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Wood filler is the best choice for repairing large, deep gouges, but usually requires staining.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
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Dental Hygiene Products Ingredients in some oral hygiene products can contribute to tooth staining.—
Ann Pietrangelo,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Prosecutors said that instead of seeking medical treatment when their two-day-old son, Hayden, stopped eating and began to turn pale blue, Blair, 37, and Taylor, 32, relied on praying over their son’s body and anointing him with olive oil.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
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Already, awards prognosticators are anointing it a possible Oscar player in several major categories.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smearing. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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