Slinging mud is a phrase used to describe the act of spreading false or damaging information about someone or something. The crossword solutions for this term are SMEAR (5 letters), ASPERSE (7 letters), and SLANDER (7 letters). SMEAR is defined as to spread false or damaging information about someone or something, while ASPERSE means to make damaging or critical remarks about someone or something. SLANDER is defined as making false and malicious statements about someone or something. All three words refer to the same action of spreading false or damaging information about someone or something.