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
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
Matt Fuchs, Time, 14 May 2025
These thick, slightly sweet griddle cakes are often cooked fresh on board and served folded in half with a generous smear of butter and sugar, or sometimes a slice of tangy brown cheese.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
Like Mamdani and other politicians that have held a steady opposition to Cuomo, Lander has spent plenty of time smearing the former governor.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smear
Verb
Children under 3 should brush with no more than a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoridated toothpaste on a soft toothbrush.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 14 May 2025
These thick, slightly sweet griddle cakes are often cooked fresh on board and served folded in half with a generous smear of butter and sugar, or sometimes a slice of tangy brown cheese.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Noun
This longtime ritual calls for members of the royal family to smear blood on their faces from their first kill during fox or stag hunting.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
Like Mamdani and other politicians that have held a steady opposition to Cuomo, Lander has spent plenty of time smearing the former governor.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smear
Verb
-
But the numbers do not paint a true picture of his threat and potency.—
Max Mathews,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
-
Recent Gallup research paints a telling picture: while algorithmic tool adoption has surged (a 12-point increase in white-collar roles since 2024), employee preparedness to work with AI has declined from 2024 to 2025.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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
Noun
-
Robinson filed his cross-complaint with his wife Frances against the Jane Does and their legal representatives, accusing them of slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress and financial elder abuse.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
28 May 2025
-
That same year, in August 2015, Eriksen filed a slander lawsuit against Ikner's father and stepmother, Jessica Ikner, a deputy at the Leon County Sheriff's Office.—
Audrey Conklin,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Adding in a few drops of dish soap to the solution can help lift the stains and water spots for spotless windows.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
-
Original price: $94.99 A Bissel Little Green cleaner tackles spills and pet stains while also removing pet hair, dander and dust from your furniture and carpets.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Except there’s a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, and coated in a puzzle.—
Irina Ivanova,
Fortune,
13 July 2025
-
Chicken and waffles are also popular, and one waffle menu item comes coated in Fruity Pebbles breakfast cereal.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
What used to be fringe denialism has evolved into a sophisticated, and increasingly profitable, campaign to discredit science, undermine regulation, and politicize sustainability.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
The Chinese Communist Party has waged a decades-long campaign to discredit the current Dalai Lama and erase his presence from Tibetan life, while tightening restrictions on religious and cultural practices.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
For this event, Love Island has dispensed with the innuendos and just gone for a straightforward kink theme.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
-
As del Toro and the audience immediately started to laugh, Clarkson realized the accidental innuendo.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
The rear panel is made of textured plastic that does a good job of preventing smudges and fingerprints, but the tablet can still be a bit slippery to hold.—
Sarah Lord,
PC Magazine,
1 July 2025
-
Barbaro had set a small fire in the hallway using a pile of cardboard and, for extra measure, had lit a homemade smoke bomb (some reports refer to it as a smudge pot).—
Sally Ventura
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smear. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share