Spreading or rubbing a substance messily across a surface, or damaging someone's reputation with false accusations.
From Old English 'smeoru' meaning fat or grease. The word originally described the physical act of spreading greasy substances, then expanded to include spreading harmful information.
Political 'smear campaigns' actually borrow their name from the physical messiness of smearing—because spreading lies about someone is as messy and hard to clean up as actual grease!
Smearing campaigns disproportionately target women candidates, especially focusing on appearance and sexuality rather than policy. The tactic weaponizes gendered stereotypes to delegitimize women's authority.
Use when describing mud-slinging or attack campaigns regardless of target gender, but acknowledge when it operates as gender-based character assassination.
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