smear

11 definitions • 13 examples

to spread a liquid or a thick substance over a surface:

The children had smeared peanut butter all over the sofa.

Can you explain why the front of your car is smeared with blood?

to publicly accuse someone of something unpleasant, unreasonable, or unlikely to be true in order to harm their reputation:

She decided to sue for libel after the newspaper smeared her private life.

a dirty mark made by spreading a liquid or a thick substance over a surface:

You'd look very stylish if it wasn't for that smear of ketchup on your shirt.

an attempt to harm someone's reputation by publicly accusing them of something that is unpleasant, unreasonable, or unlikely to be true:

The prime minister has dismissed the allegations as smears and innuendo.

She claims she was the victim of a smear campaign (= repeated attempts to damage her reputation).

a medical test in which cells from a woman's cervix (= entrance to the womb) are removed and examined to discover if there is any disease

to spread something soft or wet over a surface:

Mom smeared peanut butter and grape jelly on bagels for lunch.

to accuse someone publicly with the intention of harming the person's reputation:

He was smeared in the newspapers.

an accusation made publicly with the intention of harming a person’s reputation:

Throughout the election he had to contend with smears about his personal life.

She was upset by the smear tactics used by her opponents.

a dirty mark on a surface made by something soft or wet:

He had a smear of paint on his shirt.

to tell lies about someone or something in order to harm them:

Accusations of corruption were nothing but a deliberate attempt to smear the company and its management.

a lie that is told about a person or organization in order to harm their reputation:

They dismissed the stories of financial malpractice as an irrelevant smear.