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smear - definition and synonyms


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verb     smear pronunciation in American English
Word Forms
present tense
present participlesmearing
past tensesmeared
past participlesmeared
  1. 1
    [transitive] to spread a soft or liquid substance on a surface in a messy way

    She toasted the bread and smeared cream cheese on top.

    be smeared with something:

    His face was smeared with mud.

  2. 2
    [intransitive/transitive] if you smear paint, ink, or a similar substance, or if it smears, it spreads accidentally and makes a mess

    The ink tends to smear on shiny paper.

    Synonyms and related words
  3. 3
    [transitive] to make the surface of something dirty by rubbing it

    The glass was so smeared I could hardly see my reflection in it.

  4. 4
    [transitive] to try to damage someone’s reputation by telling lies about them

    This is a cynical attempt to smear a political rival.




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be reversed; be as if it had never happened

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