slur

Noun

• a blemish made by dirt
  • he had a smudge on his cheek
    

• a disparaging remark
  • in the 19th century any reference to female sexuality was considered a vile aspersion
    
  • it is difficult for a woman to understand a man's sensitivity to any slur on his virility
    

• (music) a curved line spanning notes that are to be played legato

Verb

• become vague or indistinct
  • The distinction between the two theories blurred
    

• utter indistinctly

• speak disparagingly of; e.g., make a racial slur
  • your comments are slurring your co-workers
    

• play smoothly or legato
  • the pianist slurred the most beautiful passage in the sonata
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  smudge , spot , blot , daub , smear , smirch , aspersion , blur , dim
• Antonyms: 
  focus , focalize , focalise