adjective
Other Word Forms
- smearily adverb
- smeariness noun
Etymology
Origin of smeary
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.
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
It slurps and slithers around in your head in great smeary splodges, like a cornucopia of slugs.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 12, 2022
Mom turns on the wipers and they make a smeary film.
From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
