The correct answer is D. Mark.
A synonym is a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. In this case, the word “smear” means to spread a bad reputation about someone or something. The word “mark” means to make a visible impression on something. Both of these words can be used to describe the act of spreading a rumor or lie about someone.
The word “encourage” means to give someone support or confidence. The word “quarrel” means to argue or fight. The word “avoid” means to stay away from something. None of these words have the same meaning as “smear.”
Here are some examples of how the word “smear” can be used in a sentence:
- The politician was smeared by his opponents.
- The company was smeared by a negative press campaign.
- The woman was smeared by her ex-husband.
Here are some examples of how the word “mark” can be used in a sentence:
- The child marked the wall with a crayon.
- The teacher marked the student’s paper with red ink.
- The police officer marked the crime scene with yellow tape.