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   smear

   /smɪə/

   verb

   • 1. coat or mark (something) messily or carelessly with a greasy or sticky substance: "his face was smeared with dirt" Similar streaksmudgestainmarksoildirtyblurinformal:splotchsplodgeliterary:besmirch
   • ▪ spread (a greasy or sticky substance) over something: "she smeared sunblock on her skin" Similar covercoatgreaselardanointliterary:bedaubspreadrubdaubslapslathersmotherplastercreamslickapplyput ondabliterary:besmear
   • ▪ messily blur the outline of (something such as writing or paint); smudge: "her lipstick was smeared"
   • 2. damage the reputation of (someone) by false accusations; slander: "someone was trying to smear her by faking letters" Similar sullytarnishbesmirchblackendrag through the mud/mirestaintaintdamagedefamediscreditdefilevilifymalignslanderlibelstigmatizecalumniateslurinformal:do a hatchet job onliterary:smirchrare:aspersevilipend

   noun

   • 1. a mark or streak of a greasy or sticky substance: "there was an oil smear on his jacket" Similar streaksmudgedaubdabspotpatchblotchblobstainmarkinformal:splotchsplodge
   • 2. a sample of tissue or other material taken from part of the body, spread thinly on a microscope slide for examination, typically for medical diagnosis: "the smears were stained for cryptosporidium"
   • ▪ short for smear test British
   • 3. a false accusation intended to damage someone's reputation: "the popular press were indulging in unwarranted smears" Similar false accusationfalse reportfalse imputationslanderlibellieuntruthslurdefamationcalumnyvilificationstaintaint
   • 4. an insecure foothold: "soon you're eyeballing the top, just one smear away"

   Word Origin Old Englishsmierwan (verb), smeoru ‘ointment, grease’, of Germanic origin; related to German schmieren (verb), Schmer (noun).

   Derivatives

   • 1. smearer noun
   • 2. smeary adjective

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • S

     1

   • M

     3

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

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