The Clue
Maligned (7 letter answer)
The Answer
SMEARED
Tags
Notes
The answer SMEARED is rarely seen, appearing only about once every 1100 puzzles.
Related Clues
Bedaubed
Besmirched
Calumniated
Daubed
Defamed
Smudged
Vilified
Slung mud at
Practiced yellow journalism
Under political attack, maybe
Definition
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"