smear 1 of 2

verb

Definition of smearnext
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

smear

2 of 2

noun

1
as in slander

Related Words
2
as in stain

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of smear
Verb
In other words, the show is a celebration of America’s 250th birthday, but one that smears a little cake on the country’s face. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 27 June 2026 The restaurant sources its birotes from Duran’s to make the open-face, bean and cheese-smeared breakfast sandwiches popular throughout Mexico. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Noun
The petition accused right-wing media of running a smear campaign against Harriman. — Kelly Hartog, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026 Plus, its native 165Hz refresh rate obliterates motion blur and frame smear across sports and cinematic gaming. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for smear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smear
  1. paint
  2. libel
  3. slander
  4. stain
  5. coat
  6. discredit
  7. innuendo
  8. smudge
Verb
  • To add interest and frame the berries, the index and pinky nails are painted in pink-and-white checkers.
    — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 3 July 2026
  • Mamdani sought to paint a picture of division in the country as a tool of the rich and powerful.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
Definition of paint
Verb
  • In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel.
    — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • As a new, inexpensive Chevrolet appeared in 1927 and The Dearborn Independent was sued for libeling a number of Jewish businessmen, Ford threw in the towel and apologized.
    — George Pendle, airmail.news, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of libel
Noun
  • The French influencer Eros Brousson strikes again – this time with Waffle House slander.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026
  • The slander towards the course throughout the week was aplenty, and warranted.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026
Definition of slander
Noun
  • The puncture left a hole in his sock between his big and middle toes, where a red stain formed.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • The latter would put a permanent stain on the 2026 World Cup and potentially damage the future of the sport in the United States.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of stain
Verb
  • 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.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026
  • Morning mist coated the nearby Rhone River that snakes through the Alpine valley as worshippers flocked in.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of coat
Verb
  • 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.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • Green said earlier this year that Adebayo shouldn’t be underestimated and his 83-point game against Washington shouldn’t be discredited.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
Definition of discredit
Noun
  • Both these films have great characters who genuinely care about one another, and both ditch the quippy, sarcastic humor that plague so many modern movies in favor of earnestness (and a dash of innuendo).
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026
  • Just attack and make all kinds of innuendo and attacks with no substance.
    — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
Definition of innuendo
Noun
  • There’s nothing more frustrating than spending time cleaning glass surfaces only to end up with streaks, smudges, or cloudy residue.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
  • These will ensure that your skin stays moisturized all day and that your contour won’t slip, pill, or smudge.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 27 June 2026
Definition of smudge

Browse Nearby Words

smatters
smear
smeared
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smear. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on smear

Nglish: Translation of smear for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All