Definition

Verb: 1. To spread or daub (a surface): To coat or cover a surface with a sticky, greasy, or dirty substance, often in a careless or messy way. 2. To sully or tarnish (a reputation): To damage or soil someone's good name or reputation (figurative, less common usage).

Usage

The verb "besmear" is used with a direct object. It describes the action of applying a substance that soils or covers. - The basic structure is: Subject + besmear + Object (surface/reputation) + [with + substance]. - It often carries a negative connotation of making something dirty or impure.

Examples

• The toddler managed to besmear the entire window with chocolate.
• The artist deliberately besmeared the canvas with thick layers of paint to create texture.
• His political opponents tried to besmear his character with false accusations. (figurative)
• Do not besmear the lens of the microscope; use a clean cloth.

Advanced Usage

• Passive Voice: Often used to emphasize the condition of the object.
  • The walls were besmeared with graffiti.
• Figurative Use: While the primary meaning is literal, it can be applied metaphorically to reputations or honor.
  • The scandal besmeared the institution's long-standing reputation.

Variants and Related Words

• Besmirch (verb): A very close synonym, more commonly used for figurative meanings (to tarnish honor or reputation).
• Daub (verb): To coat or smear with a thick, sticky substance. ("Daub" is often more neutral, while "besmear" implies a resulting mess.)
• Smear (verb): The most common modern synonym for the literal action. ("Besmear" is a more formal or literary variant of "smear".)
• Sully (verb): To tarnish or soil, used almost exclusively in a figurative sense for reputation.

Synonyms

• Smear
• Daub
• Coat
• Cover
• Defile (figurative)
• Tarnish (figurative)

Phrasal Verbs

This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.

Related Idioms

There are no common idioms that specifically feature the word "besmear". The action is typically expressed directly.

Verb

1. spread or daub (a surface)