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Showing results for smear. Search instead for smedja.
Definitions

smear

[smeer] / smɪər /
VERB
rub on, spread over
Synonyms
STRONGEST
besmirch blur coat dab daub plaster smudge spatter spray sprinkle stain sully taint tar tarnish
STRONG
apply bedaub cover defile dirty discolor overlay overspread patch slop soil
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clean collect gather
STRONG
purify
WEAK
honor laud upgrade
VERB
tarnish a reputation
Synonyms
STRONGEST
besmirch blacken defame malign slander sully taint vilify
STRONG
asperse befoul blackguard blister calumniate defile denigrate discolor hit libel pan rap scorch slam slur traduce
WEAK
bad-mouth drag through mud give a black eye poor-mouth rip up sling mud
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compliment praise
STRONG
flatter
WEAK
honor laud upgrade

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Blake Lively sought more than $161 million in damages, alleging a smear campaign by Baldoni and his team harmed her reputation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

This is a smear about an ally fighting alongside U.S. troops.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

The Center for Responsible Lending says the industry is “using false allegations as part of a smear campaign to distract from the clear harm caused by their products.”

From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026

Writing in the Guardian, Streeting said he had decided to publish the messages "after a weekend of smear and innuendo that I have something to hide".

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

She now had a smear of chocolate ice cream all around her lips.

From "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.