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

Other Word Forms

• smearer noun
• unsmeared 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

Collaborating with cinematographer Maceo Bishop, Safdie developed an unusual look for the film, meant to evoke the smeared visual style of the era of early digital video covered by the film.

From Los Angeles Times

He said an attorney had warned him that The Times was doing a “smear article” and didn’t want plaintiffs like him receiving any money from the settlement.

From Los Angeles Times

"These incidents come after months of smears and rhetoric by activists, politicians, and the media comparing ICE law enforcement to the Nazi Gestapo, kidnappers, and the Secret Police," a senior official said at the time.

From BBC

The Discayas were summoned by the Senate and the House of Representatives for investigations, and authorities blacklisted their firm, while protesters smeared the gates to their office with mud and spray-painted the word "thief".

From BBC

"The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW!"

From BBC

Related Words

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