to spread an oily or soft substance over a surface in a rough or careless way

to damage somebody’s reputation by saying unpleasant things about them that are not true

The story was an attempt to smear the party leader.

to rub writing, a drawing, etc. so that it is no longer clear; to become not clear in this way

The last few words of the letter were smeared.

Jam was smeared all over his face.

a story that is not true about somebody that is intended to damage their reputation, especially in politics

He was the victim of a smear campaign.

a medical test in which a very small amount of tissue from a woman’s cervix is removed and examined for cancer cells

LEARNit Dictionary