English dictionary



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English noun: smear

1. smear (communication) slanderous defamation


Synonymsmalignment, vilification


Broader (hypernym)calumniation, calumny, defamation, hatchet job, obloquy, traducement

2. smear (body) a thin tissue or blood sample spread on a glass slide and stained for cytologic examination and diagnosis under a microscope


Synonymscytologic smear, cytosmear


Broader (hypernym)cytologic specimen


Narrower (hyponym)alimentary tract smear, bronchoscopic smear, cervical smear, lower respiratory tract smear, Pap smear, Papanicolaou smear, sputum smear, vaginal smear

3. smear (attribute) a blemish made by dirt


SamplesHe had a smudge on his cheek.


Synonymsblot, daub, slur, smirch, smudge, spot


Broader (hypernym)blemish, defect, mar


Narrower (hyponym)blotch, fingermark, fingerprint, inkblot, splodge, splotch

4. smear (act) an act that brings discredit to the person who does it


SamplesHe made a huge blot on his copybook.


Synonymsblot, smirch, spot, stain


Broader (hypernym)error, fault, mistake


English verb: smear

1. smear (contact) stain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)begrime, bemire, colly, dirty, grime, soil


Narrower (hyponym)besmirch, moil, smirch

2. smear (contact) make a smudge on; soil by smudging


ExamplesThe children smear the paper with grease , The children smear grease onto the paper


Synonymsblur, smudge, smutch


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)rub


Narrower (hyponym)dust, resmudge

3. smear (contact) cover (a surface) by smearing (a substance) over it


SamplesSmear the wall with paint.
Daub the ceiling with plaster.


Synonymsdaub


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something PP


Broader (hypernym)cover


Narrower (hyponym)blood


Verb groupdaub

4. smear (communication) charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone


SamplesThe journalists have defamed me!.
The article in the paper sullied my reputation.


Synonymsasperse, besmirch, calumniate, defame, denigrate, slander, smirch, sully


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)accuse, charge


Narrower (hyponym)assassinate, badmouth, drag through the mud, libel, malign, traduce









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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