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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of smear
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
One of the most recent, a story that circulated earlier this month, attempted to smear Walz.
—Michael Conte, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024
Ivana Saric, Axios, 18 Sep. 2024
Yet like the Vance smear, the screenshots were viewed by millions on X, while debunkings were few and far between.
—Will Oremus, Washington Post, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for smear 
Verb
Riley is telling voters that Molinaro is a stooge for the oil industry and other corporate interests, while Molinaro smears Riley as a local kid who left to make money in Washington.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
One of the most recent, a story that circulated earlier this month, attempted to smear Walz.
—Michael Conte, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
State of play: Trump elevated the baseless smear at last week's debate, taking it from internet fringes to the national stage.
—Ivana Saric, Axios, 18 Sep. 2024
Yet like the Vance smear, the screenshots were viewed by millions on X, while debunkings were few and far between.
—Will Oremus, Washington Post, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for smear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smear
Verb
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He’s finally painted the town in the colors of his mother’s desperate dreams, but there will be no verbal acknowledgment of pride to drown out her final words of hate.Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
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Combining genetics with historical information and archeological evidence allows researchers to paint both a more complete and more accurate picture, and demonstrates how teamwork from different disciplines can unearth rich, complex stories.Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Angered by both the initial post and the follow-up, Mann filed a lawsuit against National Review in October of 2012, claiming that both Steyn and Lowry had not only libeled him, but were guilty of the intentional infliction of emotional distress.The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
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This quickly arose this question: What happens when somebody libels somebody in an online forum?The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 10 May 2023
Noun
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This is the kind of slander that would have made conservative blood boil, years ago.Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 Oct. 2024
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Republican Party slander about Haitian immigrants in Springfield led directly to bomb threats and the closure of schools and government buildings.Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Another person shared that their Hoover has worked like a charm for years and is a game changer for new and old pet stains.Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
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She was surrounded by three-foot diameter paper murals of Disney scenes attached to the wall with sticky putty that left dime-sized oil stains for months.Heather M. Jones, Parents, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Its super-soft face fabric has kept me cozy on many chilly morning dog walks, and the fact that it’s coated with a non-fluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) is just gravy.Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
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The new speaker’s high-frequency unit shares similarities with the one used in the £5,000-per-pair Dovedale speakers, with a 25mm dome made with a fine fabric weave coated in a special damping material.Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
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This is just dredging up something, try to smear and discredit a candidate.Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2024
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But Kennedy has cast doubt on those findings, claiming without evidence that the drugs were discredited because various groups stood to make money off Covid vaccines.Aria Bendix, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Keaton has a cookie that looks like a breast — lots of innuendo and puns follow.Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2024
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Although her songs may sound bubbly and sweet, many contain innuendos and explicit language.Holly Garcia, Parents, 15 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The mascara features a soft, curved brush that imparts a lengthening your-lashes-but-better look and doesn't budge, flake, or smudge throughout the day.Deanna Pai, Allure, 25 Sep. 2024
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This includes cleaning the windows at least once every six months to keep the glass free of smudges and stains and eliminate any dirt, dust, oils, or debris that may have built up on the window frame or in the window tracks.Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near smear
Cite this Entry
“Smear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smear. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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