Smear Definition & Meaning

smear
noun
  1. slanderous defamation
  2. a thin tissue or blood sample spread on a glass slide and stained for cytologic examination and diagnosis under a microscope
  3. a blemish made by dirt; "he had a smudge on his cheek"
  4. an act that brings discredit to the person who does it; "he made a huge blot on his copybook"
verb
  1. stain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance
  2. make a smudge on; soil by smudging
  3. cover (a surface) by smearing (a substance) over it; "smear the wall with paint"; "daub the ceiling with plaster"
  4. charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; "The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation"

Synonyms for smear

asperse verb

charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
bedaub verb

spread or daub (a surface)

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besmear verb

spread or daub (a surface)

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besmirch verb

charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
blot noun

a blemish made by dirt; "he had a smudge on his cheek" an act that brings discredit to the person who does it

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blur noun

a hazy or indistinct representation; "it happened so fast it was just a blur

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calumniate verb

charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

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daub noun

material used to daub walls a blemish made by dirt

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defame verb

charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

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denigrate verb

cause to seem less serious; play down; "Don't belittle his influence" charge falsely or with malicious intent

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"Smear" in song lyrics

See how smear is used in real songs:

  • "red mist, I wear, wet blood, big smear"
    Insane Clown Posse — Alley Rat
  • "A round of raps that'll pap smear"
    Motion Man f/ Biz Markie — Hold Up
  • "Some fear for the smear"
    Simplé E — Play My Funk

Words that rhyme with smear

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Usage tips for "smear"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "smear" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for smear to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with smear ↔ Synonyms for smear 🔬 Words containing smear

Frequently asked questions

What does smear mean?
slanderous defamation a thin tissue or blood sample spread on a glass slide and stained for cytologic examination and diagnosis under a microscope a blemish made by dirt; "he had a smudge on his cheek" an act that brings discredit to the person who does it; "he made a huge blot on his copybook" stain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance make a smudge on; soil by smudging cover (a surface) by smearing (a substance) over it; "smear the wall with paint
What part of speech is smear?
Smear is a noun and a verb.
How many definitions does smear have?
Smear has 8 definitions across 2 parts of speech (noun, verb).

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