smear
noun [C] (ACCUSING) /smɪər/
/smɪr/ Definition
› an attempt to harm someone's reputation by publicly accusing them of something that is unpleasant, unreasonable, or unlikely to be true: The prime minister has dismissed the allegations as smears and innuendo. She claims she was the victim of a smear campaign (= repeated attempts to damage her reputation).Damaging reputationDisapproving and criticizing
(Definition of smear noun (ACCUSING) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- besmirch verb
- black mark noun
- blacken verb (SPOIL)
- blot your copybook idiom
- calumny noun
- drag sb's name through the mire/mud idiom
- give a dog a bad name idiom
- hurl/throw/sling mud at sb idiom
- impugn verb
- libel noun
- scurrilous adjective
- show someone in a bad light idiom
- slander noun
- slander verb
- slur noun (CRITICISM)
- slur verb (CRITICIZE)
- smear verb (ACCUSE)
- stab noun
- sully verb
- tarnish verb (GOOD OPINION)
Topic:
Damaging reputation
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