Notes get slandered and covered (9)

I believe the answer is:

besmeared

'covered' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'notes get slandered' is the wordplay.
'notes' becomes 'be'.
'get' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'slandered' becomes 'smeared' ('smear' can be a synonym of 'slander').
'be'+'smeared'='BESMEARED'

'and' acts as a link.

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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