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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.
He smeared some butter on his cracker.- 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 suntan 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 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 5: |
(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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