Library / English Dictionary

SMIRCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An act that brings discredit to the person who does it

Example:

he made a huge blot on his copybook

Synonyms:

blot; smear; smirch; spot; stain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("smirch" is a kind of...):

error; fault; mistake (a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention)

Derivation:

smirch (charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A blemish made by dirt

Example:

he had a smudge on his cheek

Synonyms:

blot; daub; slur; smear; smirch; smudge; spot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("smirch" is a kind of...):

blemish; defect; mar (a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "smirch"):

blotch; splodge; splotch (an irregularly shaped spot)

fingermark; fingerprint (a smudge made by a (dirty) finger)

inkblot (a blot made with ink)

Derivation:

smirch (smear so as to make dirty or stained)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

Example:

The article in the paper sullied my reputation

Synonyms:

asperse; besmirch; calumniate; defame; denigrate; slander; smear; smirch; sully

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "smirch" is one way to...):

accuse; charge (blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "smirch"):

assassinate (destroy or damage seriously, as of someone's reputation)

libel (print slanderous statements against)

badmouth; drag through the mud; malign; traduce (speak unfavorably about)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

smirch (an act that brings discredit to the person who does it)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Smear so as to make dirty or stained

Synonyms:

besmirch; smirch

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "smirch" is one way to...):

smear (stain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

smirch (a blemish made by dirt)

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