# smear vs smell

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### smear
*verb · IPA /smɪə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #15,912*
To spread (a substance, especially one that colours or is dirty) across a surface by rubbing.

### smell
*noun · IPA /smɛl/ · frequency rank #3,086*
A sensation, pleasant or unpleasant, detected by inhaling air (or, the case of water-breathing animals, water) carrying airborne molecules of a substance.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smear-vs-smell