Hierarchy Tree
Broader categories (hypernyms)
More specific words (hyponyms)
Understanding Word Hierarchy
- ↑ Hypernyms (blue) are broader categories — “smear” is a type of these.
- ↓ Hyponyms (purple) are more specific — these are types of “smear”.
- → Click any word to explore its own hierarchy and navigate the vocabulary tree.
- → Use in writing — swap a vague word for a precise hyponym to make your writing more specific.
Frequently Asked Questions
What category does "smear" belong to?
"Smear" is a kind of charge, dirty, cover, defect, blemish, defamation, soil, error, calumny, fault. These are its hypernyms — broader categories that "smear" falls under according to WordNet.
What are more specific types of "smear"?
More specific types of "smear" (hyponyms) include: malign, traduce, libel, smirch, besmirch, blotch, and more. These are all subtypes that fall under the category of "smear".
What is a hypernym?
A hypernym is a word whose meaning includes the meaning of a more specific word. For example, "vehicle" is a hypernym of "car" — every car is a vehicle, but not every vehicle is a car.
What is a hyponym?
A hyponym is a word that is more specific than a general term. For example, "oak" and "pine" are hyponyms of "tree". Understanding hyponyms helps you choose more precise language in writing.