smeary

[smeer-ee]

adjective

smearier, smeariest 

1. showing smears; smeared.

2. tending to smear or soil.

ˈsmeary

/ ˈsmɪərɪ /

adjective

1. smeared, dirty; blurred by smearing

Other Word Forms

• smeariness noun
• smearily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of smeary¹

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

Example Sentences

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

Read more on Slate

Alongside Carti on their collaborations “Timeless” and “Rather Lie,” Tesfaye grounded his pal’s smeary Atlanta noise with evilly pretty melody.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Love Me JeJe,” up for the African music performance Grammy, is a magic-hour riff on Seyi Sodimu’s beloved late ’90s track of the same name, conjuring the warmest vibes imaginable and a great reason to dig into the history of Nigerian R&B. The hit “Me & U” is dreamy guitar devotional, bolstered by crisp kicks and incantatory chants; “Ready” conjures Sade’s quiet storm while “Wickedest” edges into smeary Atlanta rap.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Other paintings deepen the idea of “dungeon”: One smeary figure eight is the board for a Hannah Montana-branded version of the tabletop game Mall Madness.

Read more on New York Times

Revenge is a dish served as too many smeary, overcooked courses in “God Is a Bullet,” an exploitation slog about a cult kidnapping and a good man’s tumble into hell that at 2½ hours doesn’t quite comport with the expeditious promise of its title’s last word.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buttery 
• creamy 
• oiled 
• slippery 
• waxy