smear

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: vilificationmalignmentcytologic smearcytosmearsmudgespotblotdaubsmirchslurstainblur

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. slanderous defamationSynonyms: vilificationmalignment
  2. a thin tissue or blood sample spread on a glass slide and stained for cytologic examination and diagnosis under a microscopeSynonyms: cytologic smearcytosmear
  3. a blemish made by dirt“he had a smudge on his cheek”Synonyms: smudgespotblotdaubsmirchslur
  4. an act that brings discredit to the person who does it“he made a huge blot on his copybook”Synonyms: blotsmirchspotstain

Verb (4)

  1. stain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance
  2. make a smudge on; soil by smudgingSynonyms: blursmudgesmutch
  3. cover (a surface) by smearing (a substance) over it“smear the wall with paint”“daub the ceiling with plaster”Synonyms: daub
  4. charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone“The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation”Synonyms: defameslandersmirchaspersedenigratecalumniatesullybesmirch
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Smear \Smear\ (sm[=e]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smeared (sm[=e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Smearing.] [OE. smeren, smerien, AS. smierwan, smyrwan, fr. smeoru fat, grease; akin to D. smeren, OHG. smirwen, G. schmieren, Icel. smyrja to anoint. See Smear, n.]

1.To overspread with anything unctuous, viscous, or adhesive; to daub; as, to smear anything with oil. "Smear the sleepy grooms with blood." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2.To soil in any way; to contaminate; to pollute; to stain morally; as, to be smeared with infamy. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3.To smudge, blur, or render indistinct (writing, pictures, etc.). [PJC]

4.to vilify (a person); to damage (a person's reputation), especially falsely or by unfair innuendo, and with malicious intent. [PJC]

Smear \Smear\, n. [OE. smere,. smeoru fat, grease; akin to D. smeer, G. schmeer, OHG. smero, Icel. smj["o]r, Sw. & Dan. sm["o]r butter, Goth. sma['i]r[thorn]r fatness, smarna dung; cf. Lith. smarsas fat. Cf. Smirch.]

1.A fat, oily substance; oinment. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]

2.Hence, a spot made by, or as by, an unctuous or adhesive substance; a blot or blotch; a daub; a stain. [1913 Webster]

Slow broke the morn, All damp and rolling vapor, with no sun, But in its place a moving smear of light.— Alexander Smith.[1913 Webster]
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