What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
smeared
Example
The artist smeared the paint across the canvas to create a textured effect. [smeared: verb]
Example
The ink on the paper was smeared, making it difficult to read. [smeared: adjective]
Example
She looked like she had smeared her makeup on in the dark. [smeared: past participle]
streak
Example
There was a streak of red in her hair that stood out against the black. [streak: noun]
Example
The team had a winning streak of five games in a row. [streak: noun]
Example
He had a sudden streak of anger and yelled at his friend for no reason. [streak: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Streak is more commonly used than smeared in everyday language. Streak is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while smeared is less common and is typically used in specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between smeared and streak?
Both smeared and streak are informal words, but smeared may be considered more informal due to its association with messy or careless appearances.
