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Smear vs Splatter - What's the difference?

smear | splatter |

In transitive terms the difference between smear and splatter

is that smear is to damage someone's reputation by slandering, misrepresenting, or otherwise making false accusations about an individual, their statements, or their actions while splatter is to spatter (something or somebody).

In intransitive terms the difference between smear and splatter

is that smear is to become spread by smearing while splatter is to splash; to scatter; to land or strike in an uneven, distributed mess.

smear

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To spread (a substance, especially one that colours or is dirty) across a surface by rubbing.
    • The artist smeared paint over the canvas in broad strokes.
  • To have a substance smeared on (a surface).
    • She smeared her lips with lipstick.
  • To damage someone's reputation by slandering, misrepresenting, or otherwise making false accusations about an individual, their statements, or their actions.
    • ''The opposition party attempted to smear the candidate by spreading incorrect and unverifiable rumors about their personal behavior.
  • To become spread by smearing.
    • The paint is still wet — don't touch it or it will smear .
  • To climb without using footholds, using the friction from the shoe to stay on the wall.

    • Synonyms

    * spread * (have a substance smeared on) coat, cover, layer

    Derived terms

    * smearer

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A mark made by smearing.
    • This detergent cleans windows without leaving smears .
  • (medicine) A Pap smear.
    • I'm going to the doctor's this afternoon for a smear .
  • A false attack.
  • A maneuver in which the shoe is placed onto the holdless rock, and the friction from the shoe keeps it in contact
  • A rough glissando in jazz music.

    • Synonyms

    * (mark) streak * (Pap smear) Pap smear, Pap test

    Derived terms

    * cervical smear * smear campaign * smear case

    Anagrams

    * * * * English ergative verbs

    splatter

    English

    (wikipedia splatter)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An uneven shape or mess created by something dispersing on impact.
    • He had a hard time cleaning up the paint splatters on the carpet.
  • (attributive) A genre of gory horror.
    • splatter''' film; '''splatter movie

    Verb

  • To splash; to scatter; to land or strike in an uneven, distributed mess.
    • The drink splattered all over me, the table, and the floor when I knocked it over.
  • To cause (something) to splatter.
    • He splattered paint onto the wall.
  • To spatter (something or somebody).
  • * 2012 , Kimberly J. Heide, Doors of Promise (page 100)
    • Her wet hands splattered him with suds.

    Anagrams

    * * English ergative verbs