smear
noun
Smear — a deliberate act that spreads discredit across someone's reputation
Definition
An act that brings discredit to the person who does it; "he made a huge blot on his copybook"
In depth
A smear is an act that brings discredit to the person who does it, but the word carries a more deliberate, often malicious connotation than 'blot,' frequently used to describe an intentional campaign to damage someone's reputation through false or exaggerated accusation. The image of smearing suggests a deliberate spreading or rubbing of discredit across a previously clean surface.
Origin
The word descends from Old English smeoru, fat or grease, related to the verb meaning to spread a greasy or sticky substance across a surface. That physical image of deliberate spreading, rather than a single accidental drop, underlies the word's modern figurative sense, a smear conceived as actively rubbed across a reputation rather than merely splashed upon it.
Usage examples
"He made a huge smear on his own copybook with that one careless remark, repeated maliciously by his political rivals."
"The campaign's smear tactics, though widely condemned, proved disturbingly effective with certain segments of the electorate."
"She spent years trying to clear her name from a smear that had never been substantiated by any actual evidence."
How to use it
Smear carries stronger connotations of deliberate, often malicious intent than 'blot,' particularly common in political and journalistic writing describing coordinated efforts to damage reputation through false or exaggerated accusation.
Related concepts
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