Standard Lemma guide

besmear

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)

1

verb

Meaning 1

To smear over, to smear all over, to daub.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bedaub, bedirty, soil, assoil, beclart, imbrue (especially with blood), bedizen, befile, befilth, befoul, begrime, beray, beshit, besmear, besmirch, besully, bewray, blacken, blot, blur, clat, contaminate, darken, defile, dirten, dirty, elt, file, foil, foul, gunk, gunk up, inquinate, scunge, sling mud, slotter, slur, smear, smirch, smudge, smut, smutch, soss, sowl, spot, stain, sullow, sully, tarnish, uggle

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To damage the reputation of, to tarnish, to sully.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: besmirch, bewray, slander, assassinate, asperse, backbite, badmouth, befoul, belibel, besmear, blacken, blame, blaze, blemish, blot, blur, calumniate, calumny, chat shit, chat shite, cloud, defame, demonize, denigrate, deprave, depreciate, detract, dirty, discredit, disgrace, disparage, disrepute, diss, drag through the mud, forgab, forspeak, foul, infamize, lampoon, libel, malign, monsterize, muddy, reproach, revile, scandal, shit-talk, slag, smear, smirch, spatter, spot, speak ill of, stab, stain, sully, talk shit, talk shite, talk trash, tarnish, torch, traduce, trash-talk, unflatter, vilify, vilipend, villainize, wrong

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

spread or daub (a surface)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bedaub

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cover

History

Etymology

From Middle English *bismerwen, from Old English besmirwan, besmierwan (“to besmear”), equivalent to be- + smear. Cognate with Dutch besmeren (“to besmear”), German beschmieren (“to besmear”).

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: нацапвам (nacapvam) — to smear over, sully
  • Bulgarian: измърсявам (izmǎrsjavam) — to smear over, sully
  • Bulgarian: оплесквам (opleskvam) — to smear over, sully
  • Bulgarian: размазвам (razmazvam) — to smear over, sully
  • German: beschmieren — to smear over, sully
  • German: verschmieren — to smear over, sully
  • German: beschmutzen — to smear over, sully
  • Latin: linō — to smear over, sully
  • Ottoman Turkish: بولامق (bulamak) — to smear over, sully