smear

[ smeer ]

verb (used with object)

1. to spread or daub (an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance) on or over something:

   to smear butter on bread.

2. to spread or daub an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance on:

   to smear bread with butter.

3. to stain, spot, or make dirty with something oily, greasy, viscous, or wet.
4. to sully, vilify, or soil (a reputation, good name, etc.).
5. to smudge or blur, as by rubbing:

   The signature was smeared.

6. Slang. to defeat decisively; overwhelm:

   They smeared the home team.

noun

1. an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance, especially a dab of such a substance.
2. a stain, spot, or mark made by such a substance.
3. a smudge.
4. something smeared or to be smeared on a thing, as a glaze for pottery.
5. a small quantity of something spread thinly on a slide for microscopic examination.
6. vilification:

   a smear by a cheap gossip columnist.

smear

/ smɪə /

verb

1. to bedaub or cover with oil, grease, etc
2. to rub over or apply thickly
3. to rub so as to produce a smudge
4. to slander
5. slang.
   to defeat completely
6. intr to be or become smeared or dirtied

noun

1. a dirty mark or smudge
2. 1. a slanderous attack
   2. ( as modifier )

      smear tactics

3. a preparation of blood, secretions, etc, smeared onto a glass slide for examination under a microscope

Derived Forms

• ˈsmearer, noun

Other Words From

• smearer noun
• un·smeared adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of smear¹

before 900; (v.) Middle English smeren, smirien to rub with fat, anoint, Old English smirian, smerian, smerwan; cognate with Dutch smeren, German schmieren, Old Norse smyrja, smyrwa; (noun) in current senses derivative of the v.; compare obsolete smear fat, grease, ointment, Middle English smere, Old English smeoru, cognate with Dutch smear, German Schmer, Old Norse smjǫr grease, Greek smýris rubbing powder; emery

Word History and Origins

Origin of smear¹

Old English smeoru (n); related to Old Norse smjör fat, Old High German smero, Greek muron ointment

Example Sentences

“Defendants claim to be investigating the facts, but the reality is they are finding deep pockets and trying to smear all of them with the same brush.”

From Los Angeles Times

Pictures show Valencia City Hall smeared with mud, while the Reuters news agency reports protesters throwing chairs and other objects.

From BBC

The radio host conspiracist was ordered to liquidate that platform to pay off part of a massive defamation judgment against him for smearing the families of Sandy Hook school shooting victims repeatedly.

From Salon

He was contaminated after the nerve agent was smeared on former Russian spy Mr Skripal’s door handle in Salisbury in March 2018.

From BBC

These handy, reusable linen bags are designed to keep veggies and leafy greens crisp for longer and to prevent them from dissolving into brownish-green smears of goo in a plastic bag.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• besmirch
• blur
• coat
• dab
• daub
• plaster
• smudge
• spatter
• spray
• sprinkle
• stain
• sully
• taint
• tar
• tarnish