smear

PC Nolan replied: "I believed what I saw was a smear of blood on his thumb."

They also refuted another smear, aimed at EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit that was formed to oversee international virus research funded by government agencies.

Each of them contends or is portrayed by Trump’s transition team as a victim of a political prosecution or a left-wing smear campaign.

With the bleached hair, zinc smeared across the cheeks and collar turned up, he is perfectly at home in his surroundings.

Gabbard, who recently joined the Republican Party, has previously said her detractors are "warmongers" who seek to smear any critic of Washington's establishment.