smear - Definition & Meaning | Lingo Dictionary

smear

Third Person

smears

Present Participle

smearing

Past Tense

smeared

Past Participle

smeared

to spread a substance over a surface in a messy or uneven manner

transitive

She accidentally smeared ink across the page, leaving a messy blot.
He smeared grease on the gears to keep them running smoothly.
The child smeared paint on the wall, creating abstract patterns.
She smeared lipstick on her lips without using a mirror, resulting in uneven application.
The chef smeared sauce on the plate to add a decorative touch to the dish.

Synonyms:

to tarnish someone's reputation with unfounded or malicious claims

transitive

The tabloid newspaper attempted to smear the politician's reputation with baseless allegations of corruption.
His former colleagues attempted to smear his reputation in the industry.
Online trolls attempted to smear the celebrity by spreading rumors and fabricated stories on social media.
The journalist faced a defamation lawsuit after attempting to smear the CEO with unsubstantiated claims.
The disgruntled employee attempted to smear the company's reputation by leaking confidential information to the press.

Synonyms:

to spread a dirty or unclean substance over a surface, resulting in a stain or discoloration

transitive

The children's hands were smeared with colorful markers after a day of crafting and drawing.
The mechanic's hands were smeared with engine grease after working on the car.
The mud from the garden smeared the carpet, leaving dark stains on the fibers.
The spilled coffee smeared the pages of the book, leaving brown stains on the paper.
The sauce from the spaghetti smeared the white tablecloth, leaving orange stains.

(climbing) to use the friction of one's shoe against the rock surface to gain traction and support