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 libeling
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smearing
PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
If the smearing continues, look for a position elsewhere.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
The vacuum cleaner has powerful suction, 8,000 Pa, and the mop cleans without sloshing and smearing water on the floor.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
Despite the controversy, most Glamour staffers can recall smearing on play makeup or stealing mommy’s moisturizer.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 13 Nov. 2025
So actually, smearing their voices together and then doing other stuff in the computer made the perfect voice.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
The little brother is still contentedly working on his painting, dipping his brush into his pots and then smearing it across the paper.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
After smearing Tylenol, the president's unscripted remarks quickly veered into an incoherent rant linking vaccines to autism as well.
—ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
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
Noun
Black inks for the same printers tend to have less obvious smearing than the color ink, and many smear just enough to see a smudge, without harming readability.
—PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
If the smearing continues, look for a position elsewhere.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
This dedication centers Sophie and Benedict’s second meet-cute, when the two cross paths at a country house where Benedict is attending a party and where Sophie is now working, after being unable to find a position in London thanks to her stepmother smearing her reputation.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
The vacuum cleaner has powerful suction, 8,000 Pa, and the mop cleans without sloshing and smearing water on the floor.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
Despite the controversy, most Glamour staffers can recall smearing on play makeup or stealing mommy’s moisturizer.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 13 Nov. 2025
So actually, smearing their voices together and then doing other stuff in the computer made the perfect voice.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
The little brother is still contentedly working on his painting, dipping his brush into his pots and then smearing it across the paper.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
After smearing Tylenol, the president's unscripted remarks quickly veered into an incoherent rant linking vaccines to autism as well.
—ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
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
-
The speech and debate clause, under Article 1, Section 6, of the Constitution, gives these members immunity from liability for defamation when reading the list of names aloud in court.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In 2023, the Move Forward Party campaigned on curbing royal powers, though efforts to reform Thailand’s draconian royal defamation law, known as lèse-majesté or Article 112, were deemed unconstitutional and led to the party’s dissolution by the Constitutional Court.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This practice of coating paper with wax dates back through the 19th century, as a way to keep moisture and odors out of different food items.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The sun comes out, coating the top layer of the icy snow with water, and suddenly, the track is a half-second faster.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Kennedy's attorneys are claiming defamation both in the form of libel and slander, and are alleging civil conspiracy to make false accusations, along with assault, battery, and more.—
Lauren Linder,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Following her termination, Wise filed a lawsuit against the county alleging libel, wrongful termination and tortious interference, according to court documents.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Low Commitment For those looking to dip their toe into a new color trend, Kelly advises painting a vanity, using a new tile in a niche or backsplash, or simply playing with color through accessories and textiles.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Feb. 2026
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Ceilings Often affectionately referred to as the 'fifth wall' of a room, painting a ceiling is one of the top tips designers recommend for making a room feel bigger.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Shocking lies Within hours, the administration was slandering her.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
17 Jan. 2026
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And then the media was slandering our dad’s name and reputation after a lifetime of being a fairly wholesome guy.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 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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Angel went for a respectful middle-of-the-road jab — complimenting her parenting and resilience, but maligning her for being petty.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
5 Jan. 2026
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Defense attorneys have also decried violations of fair-trial rights, saying that the prosecutor in the cases has sought to influence the jury pool by maligning those charged.—
LAUREN CARASIK,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Feb. 2017
Verb
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As those natural oils break down, the wood may become dry, dull, and more prone to cracking or staining.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
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Another option is to use a straw for drinking the liquid, which can help bypass the teeth and prevent staining.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smearing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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