Slanderous attack (5)
I believe the answer is:
smear
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">slanderous attack</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for smear that I've seen before include "Greasy/sticky mark" , "Badmouth" , "material for examination that is on the slide" , "Besmirch" , "False report" .)