Smear

/smɪər/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a mark made by smearing or spreading a substance.

There was a smear of paint on the floor after the renovation.

an attempt to damage a person's reputation through false accusations.

His career suffered due to the smear perpetrated by his rivals.

verb

to spread or apply a substance thinly or unevenly over a surface.

She decided to smear the butter on the toast with a knife.

to damage someone's reputation by making false or exaggerated claims.

The politician tried to smear his opponent with rumors and lies.

Middle English smeren, from Old Norse smyrja

smear campaign

A coordinated effort to damage someone's reputation.

smear test

A medical test for cancer screening, especially in women.

smear of dirt

A mark caused by dirt being spread on a surface.

smudge

A mark made by a smearing or rubbing action.

defamation

The action of damaging the good reputation of someone.

daub

To coat or smear a surface with a substance.

To criticize someone harshly.

He got smeared on social media after that incident.

To be involved in a scandal or controversy.

After the leak, he was smeared as a whistleblower.