What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
slander
Example
She was accused of slandering her former boss by spreading false rumors about him. [slandered: past tense]
Example
The politician filed a lawsuit against the newspaper for publishing slanderous statements about him. [slanderous: adjective]
smear
Example
The company was sued for smearing its competitor's reputation through false advertising. [smearing: gerund or present participle]
Example
The journalist was fired for publishing a smear campaign against the celebrity. [smear campaign: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Slander and smear are both commonly used in legal and journalistic contexts. However, slander is more commonly used in everyday language, while smear is more commonly used in political or corporate contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between slander and smear?
Both slander and smear are formal words that are typically used in legal or journalistic contexts. However, smear can also be used in informal contexts to describe a false or malicious attack on someone's reputation.
