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Synonyms

smeary

American  
[smeer-ee] / ˈsmɪər i /

adjective

smearier, smeariest
  1. showing smears; smeared.

  2. tending to smear or soil.


smeary British  
/ ˈsmɪərɪ /

adjective

  1. smeared, dirty; blurred by smearing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of smeary

First recorded in 1520–30; smear + -y 1


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The eeriest costume this Halloween season would be Aunt Gladys, with her odd copper wig, oversized sunglasses, blue eyeshadow, and smeary red lipstick.

From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2025

Here’s an underrated gem from a few years back: smeary, romantic, ’80s-inspired pop as vibrant as a bouquet of roses in every color.

From New York Times ● Mar. 28, 2023

The 4-megapixel UDC still looks fairly smeary, and I’d only use it as a last resort.

From The Verge ● Aug. 17, 2022

The cleanly cut patterns are as precise as the applied pigment is loose and smeary.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 24, 2022

Mom turns on the wipers and they make a smeary film.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio

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