smear

1 of 2

noun

ˈsmir 

1

a

: a viscous or sticky substance

b

: a spot made by or as if by an unctuous or adhesive substance

2

: material smeared on a surface (as of a microscopic slide)

also : a preparation made by smearing material on a surface

a vaginal smear

3

: a usually unsubstantiated charge or accusation against a person or organization

—often used attributively

a smear campaign

a smear job

smear

2 of 2

verb

smeared; smearing; smears

transitive verb

1

a

: to overspread with something unctuous, viscous, or adhesive : daub

smeared the paper with glue

b

: to spread over a surface

2

a

: to stain, smudge, or dirty by or as if by smearing

b

: sully, besmirch

specifically : to vilify especially by secretly and maliciously spreading grave charges and imputations

3

: to obliterate, obscure, blur, blend, wipe out, or defeat by or as if by smearing

smearer noun

Synonyms

Verb

• anoint
• bedaub
• besmear
• daub

Examples of smear in a Sentence

Noun

The blood smear revealed malaria.

Verb

The children smeared the window with fingerprints.

She smeared jam on her toast.

Butter was smeared all over the counter.

Her mascara smeared when she cried.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Reagan was met with pushback from his era's media culture, but Trump and his supporters have endured a decade of smears and muzzles unlike any in American history. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025

These images can feed into AI systems that analyze blood smears or detect cellular anomalies. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

Verb

There is no music in the teaser, and the only action comes with j-hope stands up and an unseen hand smears his face with white paint as the song’s title pops up on screen. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2025

Now, finally, parents have an ally in the White House—rather than an administration working hand in glove with activist organizations to smear them and chill their political participation. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English smere, from Old English smeoru; akin to Old High German smero grease and probably to Old Irish smiur marrow

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing smear

• cervical smear
• Papanicolaou smear
• Pap smear
• smear test

Rhymes for smear

• beer
• bier
• cheer
• clear
• dear
• deer
• drear
• ear
• fear
• fier
• gear
• hear

Kids Definition

smear

1 of 2 noun

ˈsmi(ə)r 

1

: a spot made by or as if by an oily or sticky substance : smudge

2

: material smeared on a surface

especially : material prepared for microscopic examination by smearing on a slide compare pap smear

3

: a usually unproven charge or accusation

smear

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to spread with something oily or sticky

b

: to spread over a surface

2

a

: to stain, smudge, or dirty by or as if by smearing

b

: to harm the reputation of

3

: to blot out or blur by or as if by smearing

smearer noun

Medical Definition

smear

1 of 2 noun

ˈsmi(ə)r 

: material spread on a surface (as of a microscopic slide)

also : a preparation made by spreading material on a surface see pap smear, vaginal smear

smear

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to prepare as a smear for microscopic examination : make a smear of