libel vs smear

libel and smear both are nouns.

libel and smear both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
libel	Yes	No	Yes	No
smear	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, smear is a hypernym of libel; that is, smear is a word with a broader meaning than libel:

libel: print slanderous statements against
smear: charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

Other hypernyms of libel include asperse, besmirch, calumniate, defame, denigrate, slander, smirch, sully.

libel (noun)	smear (noun)
a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person	an act that brings discredit to the person who does it
the written statement of a plaintiff explaining the cause of action (the defamation) and any relief he seeks	a blemish made by dirt
	a thin tissue or blood sample spread on a glass slide and stained for cytologic examination and diagnosis under a microscope
	slanderous defamation

libel (verb)	smear (verb)
print slanderous statements against	charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
	make a smudge on; soil by smudging
	stain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance
	cover (a surface) by smearing (a substance) over it

Difference between libel and smear

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