smear

IPA/smɪə(r)/
KK[smˈɪr]IPA/smɪr/

smear — 動詞

  • 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

塗抹；塗

將軟質或液體物質塗在表面上

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.

Vivek 小心翼翼地在畫布上塗上一層厚厚的藍色顏料。

smear + noun + onto + noun phrase

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

那個小女孩在生日派對上把巧克力塗得滿臉和滿手都是。

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

誹謗；抹黑

散布不實言論以損害名譽

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.

競選期間，兩位候選人都試圖用關於對方過去的謊言來抹黑彼此。

smear + somebody + with + noun

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

那家八卦報紙刊登了一則後來被證實完全虛構的故事，藉此抹黑那位年輕演員。

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

弄髒；沾油

因碰觸物質而留下污漬

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.

Jin 花了一下午修理摩托車後，他的白襯衫沾滿了機油。

passive: be smeared with [substance]

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

那學步兒趁媽媽接電話時，把黏黏的果醬抹得整個廚房桌子都是。

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

弄糊；蹭花

摩擦書寫部分使其模糊不清

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.

Mira 的眼淚滴落在手寫的信紙上，把墨水弄得模糊不清，字跡完全無法辨認。

smear + ink = writing becomes unreadable

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

Amani 不小心把前臂靠在畫本上，結果蹭花了鉛筆素描。

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 — 名詞