Small slander for example elevated smear (6)
I believe the answer is:
smudge
'smear' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'small slander for example elevated' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'slander' becomes 'mud' (as in to drag someone's name through the mud).
'for example' becomes 'e.g.' (synonyms).
'elevated' says the letters should be written in reverse (in a down clue, letters go up).
'eg' in reverse letter order is 'ge'.
's'+'mud'+'ge'='SMUDGE'
(Other definitions for smudge that I've seen before include "A dirty or blurred mark" , "Smeared blot" , "Messy mark" , "Blur, blot" , "A smeared mark or stain" .)