Commercial in a smear campaign Crossword Clue

We have the 8-letter answer for Commercial in a smear campaign crossword clue, last seen in the NYT Easy Mode Crossword December 5, 2025 puzzle. Let us help you solve the crossword clue that has you stumped so you can finish the puzzle.

Commercial in a smear campaign Crossword Answer

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Hint 1: Clue Definitions

SMEAR (noun)
1. an act that brings discredit to the person who does it
2. a thin tissue or blood sample spread on a glass slide and stained for cytologic examination and diagnosis under a microscope
SMEAR (verb)
1. charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
2. make a smudge on; soil by smudging
COMMERCIAL (noun)
1. a commercially sponsored ad on radio or television
COMMERCIAL (adjective)
1. of the kind or quality used in commerce; average or inferior
2. connected with or engaged in or sponsored by or used in commerce or commercial enterprises

More NYT Easy Mode Crossword (12/5/2025) Answers

Across

1. African country sandwiched between Togo and Ivory Coast

6. ___ Arabia

11. A devoted fan might purchase them to save money on good seats

14. Words of caution to someone looking to pick a fight

16. Word after "Christmas" or "New Year's"

17. Intertwines

18. Narrow inlet

19. Like bread dough after proofing (hopefully!)

21. Greek god of love

22. Home of L.A. and San Francisco, informally

23. Dutch artist Jan van der ___

24. Trunk : tree :: ___ : flower

25. Item passed in a relay race

28. Some outsiders

29. Narrow opening

30. Word on some Halloween candy bar wrappers

31. React to something terrifying, maybe

34. "Hah! So there!"

38. Wake-up call, in a way

39. Price per hour

40. "Why not ___?" ("Do we have to pick one or the other?")

41. Potato chip brand

42. Heap of football players, e.g.

43. Sauce often made with basil and pine nuts

44. Boat for loading animals two-by-two

45. Calgary's province

47. Number of legs for a crab

48. "OK, might as well give it a shot!'

51. "Age" at which you discovered something you perhaps should have known already, in online lingo

52. Use a four-letter word

53. ___ Gulf, Philippine site of the largest naval battle in W.W.II

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Down

1. Collection studied by a DNA specialist

2. Knitting project often made "in the round"

3. "Quaking" tree

4. 12:00 PM

5. Bit of ink peeking out above a tiny sock, say

6. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" or "Hot in Cleveland"

7. ___ and pains

8. Some small stringed instruments, casually

9. Belle of the ball, informally

10. Perform repeatedly

11. One "S" of U.S.S.R.

12. Got moist-eyed, with "up"

13. Seafarer

14. Skin-related prefix

15. More than just sprinkles

20. Helpful tools when solving crosswords on paper, perhaps

22. "Is that really true?!"

24. Fat-free milk

25. "Handle" for a turkey drumstick

27. Kind of chowder

28. Give a thumbs-up on social media

30. Like the instincts of some parents

31. Mohamed ___, soccer player known as the "Egyptian King"

32. Red wine from Bordeaux

33. Businessman who franchised McDonald's

34. Gay ___, author of "Thy Neighbor's Wife"

35. Antagonistic

36. Go to, as a party

37. Revealing underwear

39. Tender cut of beef

42. Ruses

43. "Walkin' After Midnight" singer Cline

45. Jellylike stuff in a petri dish

46. Ripped

49. Ending of an academic email address

50. "___ Ones," YouTube series where interviewees eat spicy wings

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