Dirty trick on the campaign trail Crossword Clue

A warm welcome to all crossword lovers!
Its time to solve "Dirty trick on the campaign trail" crossword clue for today's "Wall Street Journal" daily crossword.

Understanding Today's Crossword Puzzle

The answer to the clue "Dirty trick on the campaign trail" is "SMEAR." This answer fits the clue because in the realm of politics, a smear refers to a malicious and false accusation or insinuation meant to damage someone's reputation. Here's why "SMEAR" is the perfect answer for this clue:

1. Intention: A smear tactic in a political campaign is designed to harm an opponent by spreading negative and often untrue information about them.
2. Effect: The purpose of a smear is to tarnish the target's public image and credibility, influencing voters' opinions about the candidate being attacked.
3. Commonality: Smear campaigns have unfortunately become common in political discourse, where mudslinging and character attacks are used to gain advantage.

In summary, "SMEAR" accurately reflects the underhanded and deceptive nature of a dirty trick employed on the campaign trail, making it the most apt answer for today's crossword puzzle clue.

Definition of "SMEAR"

coat or mark (something) messily or carelessly with a greasy or sticky substance

Example :

his face was smeared with dirt

she smeared sunblock on her skin

her lipstick was smeared

 The Crossword clue "Dirty trick on the campaign trail" published 1 time/s & has 1 answer/s. 

Crossword	Date	Answer
Wall Street Journal	29 January 2018	SMEAR