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smear
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- pronunciation:
- smir
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun)
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
smears, smearing, smeared |
| definition 1: |
to spread or apply (a sticky, oily, or greasy substance) on or over a surface.
She smeared some butter on her cracker.The painter accidentally smeared some paint on the side of the couch.- synonyms:
- slap on, spread
- similar words:
- apply, daub, layer
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| definition 2: |
to coat or spread with something sticky, greasy, or oily.
She smeared the children's faces with sunscreen lotion.- synonyms:
- coat, daub
- similar words:
- dope, grease
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| definition 3: |
to dirty or stain by or as if by applying a sticky or greasy substance to.
He leaned over the table and smeared his tie with jam.- synonyms:
- begrime, dirty, smudge, soil
- similar words:
- bedaub, daub, muck, stain
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| definition 4: |
to cause (wet paint, lipstick, or the like) to spread outside the area where it has purposely been applied.
He kissed her suddenly and smeared her lipstick.She scratched the corner of her eye and accidentally smeared her mascara. |
| definition 5: |
to damage the reputation or name of, esp. by unsubstantiated claims.
His opponent smeared him in his campaign advertising.- synonyms:
- calumniate, defame, libel, slander
- similar words:
- defile, malign, spatter, stain, stigmatize, sully, vilify, wrong
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| definition 6: |
(slang) to defeat decisively; whip.
Nobody thought they could win, but they smeared 'em!- synonyms:
- clobber, cream, drub, massacre, shellac, thrash, trounce, whip, whomp
- similar words:
- beat, defeat, lather, lick, overwhelm, rout, skunk
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| related words: |
abase, anoint, blacken, blur, coat, dab, denigrate, discredit, disgrace, grease, libel, rub, soil, taint, traduce |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition: |
to be or become spread or smudged on or over a surface.
She took a bite of the sandwich and her lipstick smeared.- synonyms:
- smudge
- similar words:
- daub, run, spread, stain
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| related words: |
blur |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
a mark or spot made by spreading a sticky or greasy substance over a surface; smudge.
The glass still had a lipstick smear on it when it came out of the dishwasher.- synonyms:
- smirch, smudge, stain
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| definition 2: |
something that is smeared on a surface, esp. a sample or preparation applied to a microscope slide for examination.
The researcher examined the smear under the microscope. |
| definition 3: |
a usu. unfounded accusation or charge designed to damage someone's reputation; defamation.
The story about him was just a smear but it did great damage to his reputation.- synonyms:
- calumny, defamation, libel, slander, smirch, stain
- similar words:
- malediction, taint
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| related words: |
blur, brand, calumny, culture, dab, daub, disgrace, libel |
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| derivation: |
smearer (n.) |
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