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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Smear: Definition, Examples, and Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：spread on a surface (smear)

smear 🔊

/smɪr/

v./n.

To spread a soft or sticky substance over a surface by rubbing.

Hand spreading butter on bread, smear action close-up

spread on a surface 🔊

➕

/spred ɒn ə ˈsɜːrfɪs/

v./n.

To apply a soft or sticky substance onto a surface by rubbing or pressing, often unevenly.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'smerian', related to fat or grease; later used figuratively for defamation.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine spreading jam on bread for literal meaning; then picture gossip spreading lies to 'smear' a person's name.

📖 Example

The child smeared chocolate icing all over his face while decorating the cake. 🔊 The child spread chocolate icing all over his face while decorating the cake.

🔗 Collocations

smear butter on – to spread butter onto bread or a surface

smear paint over – to apply paint over a surface by rubbing

smear with oil – to coat something with oil by rubbing

🔄 Synonyms

spread (v.) – to cover a surface with a substance, often evenly

daub (v.) – to apply a substance crudely or carelessly

coat (v.) – to cover something with a layer of a substance

🚫 Antonyms

clean (v.) – to remove dirt or unwanted substance from a surface

wipe off (phr.v.) – to remove a substance by wiping

scrape (v.) – to remove a layer or substance by scraping

🌱 Derivatives

smeared (adj./v. past) – covered or marked with a substance; past tense of smear

smearing (n./v. gerund) – the act of spreading or defaming; present participle

smearer (n.) – a person who smears (either physically or reputationally)

📖 Cultural Story

Smear originates from Old English 'smerian' (to anoint with fat). By the 1800s, it acquired the political sense of defamation, as in 'smear campaign'.

Meaning 2：defame someone's reputation (smear)

smear 🔊

/smɪr/

v./n.

To harm someone's reputation by spreading untrue or harmful statements about them.

Man at podium with accusation arrow, smear defamation scene

defame someone's reputation 🔊

➕

/dɪˈfeɪm ˈsʌmwʌnz ˌrepjuˈteɪʃn/

v./n.

To harm someone's good name by deliberately spreading false and damaging statements about them.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

During the election, some politicians tried to smear their opponents with false rumors instead of discussing real issues. 🔊 During the election, some politicians attempted to damage their opponents' reputation with false rumors rather than discussing real issues.

🔗 Collocations

smear campaign – a coordinated effort to damage someone's reputation through false accusations

smear tactics – strategies used to discredit an opponent by spreading harmful lies

smear article – a written piece intended to defame a person or group

🔄 Synonyms

slander (v.) – to make false spoken statements that damage someone's reputation

libel (v.) – to publish false written statements that harm someone's reputation

vilify (v.) – to speak or write about someone in an abusive or damaging way

🚫 Antonyms

praise (v.) – to express approval or admiration for someone

commend (v.) – to officially praise someone for their achievements

honor (v.) – to give public respect or recognition to someone

🌱 Derivatives

smeared (adj./v. past) – having one's reputation damaged; past tense of smear

smearing (n./v. gerund) – the act of defaming someone through false claims

smearer (n.) – a person who engages in smearing others' reputations