The Clue
Blacken (5 letter answer)
The Answer
SMEAR
Tags
Notes
The answer SMEAR is seen frequently, appearing about once every 120 puzzles.
Related Clues
Besmirch
Blotch
Calumniate
Daub
Defamation
Defame
Denigrate
Impugn
Insult
Slander
Soil
Vilification
Vilify
Bad mark
Campaign calumny
Campaign tactic
Cosmetician's goof
Eyeliner problem
Lipstick slip
Makeup mishap
Makeup problem
Mess up
Attack ad, maybe
Bit of negative campaigning
___ campaign (dirty politics)
Campaign dirty trick
Eyeliner boo-boo
Medical-lab technique
Slight on the stump, say
Window cleaner's goof
Window washer's boo-boo
What decrepit windshield wipers do
Definition
SMEAR as a noun:
1. (smear, vilification, malignment) = slanderous defamation
2. (smear, cytologic smear, cytosmear) = a thin tissue or blood sample spread on a glass slide and stained for cytologic examination and diagnosis under a microscope
3. (smudge, spot, blot, daub, smear, smirch, slur) = a blemish made by dirt; "he had a smudge on his cheek"
4. (blot, smear, smirch, spot, stain) = an act that brings discredit to the person who does it; "he made a huge blot on his copybook"
SMEAR as a verb:
1. stain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance
2. (smear, blur, smudge, smutch) = make a smudge on; soil by smudging
3. (daub, smear) = cover (a surface) by smearing (a substance) over it; "smear the wall with paint"; "daub the ceiling with plaster"
4. (defame, slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch) = charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; "The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation"