smear

IPA/smɪə(r)/
KK[smˈɪr]IPA/smɪr/

smear — verb

  • smearpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • smearshe / she / it
  • smearedpast simple
  • smearing-ing form

1. to put a layer of a soft, wet, or sticky substance onto a surface, usually using

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to put a layer of a soft, wet, or sticky substance onto a surface, usually using your fingers, a knife, or a brush.

例句

Vivek carefully smeared a thick layer of blue paint onto the canvas with a palette knife.

smear + noun + onto + noun phrase

The little girl smeared chocolate all over her face and hands during the birthday party.

collocation: smear + all over

同義詞
  • spread

    more general; does not suggest messiness. 'Spread butter on toast' sounds neutral; 'smear butter on toast' suggests a thick, uneven layer.

  • daub

    suggests clumsiness or lack of care. More likely used for paint or mud than food.

  • rub

    emphasizes the back-and-forth motion rather than the coating result.

反義詞
  • wipe

    to remove a substance from a surface, the opposite action.

  • scrape

    to remove a layer by dragging a tool across it.

文法句型

smear + noun + on/over + noun phrase

用法筆記

Common with a following preposition phrase that specifies where the substance goes: smear + something + on/over/across + surface.

常見錯誤

❌I smeared butter the bread.
✅I smeared butter on the bread.
💡the surface must be introduced by a preposition.
❌She smeared painting on the wall.
✅She smeared paint on the wall.
💡use the substance noun, not the activity noun.

2. to say or write false and harmful things about someone in public, with the aim o

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to say or write false and harmful things about someone in public, with the aim of damaging their reputation or career.

例句

During the election campaign, both candidates tried to smear each other with lies about their past.

smear + somebody + with + noun

The tabloid smeared the young actor by printing a story that turned out to be completely false.

同義詞
  • defame

    more formal and legal in tone. Used in journalism and law.

  • libel

    specifically refers to written or published false statements that damage reputation.

  • slander

    specifically refers to spoken false statements that damage reputation.

  • besmirch

    more literary. 'Besmirch someone's reputation' sounds old-fashioned.

反義詞
  • praise

    to express warm approval of someone.

  • defend

    to speak in support of someone against attack.

文法句型

smear + somebody

用法筆記

This sense is typically used in political or media contexts. The passive form is common: 'He was smeared by his opponents.' Often followed by 'as' to state the false claim: 'They smeared her as a liar.'

常見錯誤

❌The newspaper smeared him by telling the truth about his mistakes.
✅The newspaper smeared him by publishing lies about his past.
💡smearing involves falsehoods, not honest criticism.
❌I accidentally smeared my friend by saying something mean.
✅I accidentally insulted my friend.
💡this sense requires public, deliberate falsehood intended to harm reputation.

3. to accidentally mark or make something dirty, oily, or sticky by touching it wit

3.動詞及物B1
釋義

to accidentally mark or make something dirty, oily, or sticky by touching it with a substance that rubs off.

例句

Jin's white shirt was smeared with engine oil after he spent the afternoon fixing the motorcycle.

passive: be smeared with [substance]

The toddler smeared sticky jam all over the kitchen table while his mother answered the phone.

同義詞
  • stain

    focuses on the discoloration left behind, not the act of spreading. Stains are harder to remove.

  • smudge

    suggests a smaller, less extensive mark; often used for ink, pencil, or makeup.

  • soil

    more general and formal. 'Soil one's clothes' can mean any kind of dirt.

反義詞
  • clean

    to remove dirt from something.

  • wipe

    to clean or dry by rubbing.

文法句型

smear + noun + with + noun

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1 (intentional spreading), this sense describes accidental mess. The subject is often a person who makes a mess on themselves or on a surface, or an object that carries the dirty substance.

常見錯誤

❌She smeared paint on the wall deliberately.
✅She smeared paint on the wall to decorate it.
💡if it's intentional and decorative, use sense 1.

4. to rub a written or printed image so that the ink, pencil, or paint spreads beyo

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to rub a written or printed image so that the ink, pencil, or paint spreads beyond its original lines and becomes unclear.

例句

Mira's tears fell onto the handwritten letter and smeared the ink until the words were impossible to read.

smear + ink = writing becomes unreadable

Amani accidentally smeared the pencil sketch when she rested her forearm on the drawing pad.

同義詞
  • blur

    focuses on the resulting unclearness rather than the rubbing action. 'The writing blurred when it got wet.'

  • smudge

    very close in meaning; 'smudge' is more common for small marks, 'smear' for larger areas of running ink.

反義詞
  • sharpen

    to make an image or outline clearer.

文法句型

smear + noun (ink / writing / drawing)

用法筆記

Unlike sense 3 (making something dirty with a substance), this sense is specific to writing and drawing materials. The result is that the marks become blurred and lose their clear shape.

常見錯誤

❌I smeared my shirt with ink.
✅I smeared the ink on the page.
💡when the writing itself blurs, the object is the writing; when clothes get dirty, use sense 3.

smear — noun