jar 1 of 2

noun

Definition of jarnext
1
as in collision
a forceful coming together of two things this padded case should protect your laptop from the jars normally experienced while traveling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in surprise
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected the flow of her day was interrupted with the jar of an unexpected crisis

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in scratch
a harsh grating sound the jar of a stuck car door

Synonyms & Similar Words

jar

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily those two coworkers have such incompatible personalities that it's no wonder they constantly jar

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to conflict
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably the bright orange of the walls jars with the light pastels of the furnishings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of jar
Noun
All told, the McCauleys stole at least $12 million, getting creative in hiding cash — by stuffing it into jars of spaghetti sauce, for example. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026 But as any fellow candle-lover knows, the wax doesn’t always stay in the jar. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
The jarring declaration comes after a massive overnight assault that killed 12 people in Ukraine and injured at least a dozen more. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026 The jarring post struck a chord with Miguel’s IG following, as an outpouring of support flooded his comment section. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jar
  1. collision
  2. surprise
  3. scratch
  4. bicker
  5. conflict
  6. thump
  7. shock
  8. scrape
Noun
  • Thomas defenders maintained that slow-motion replays and freeze frames made an accidental collision appear deliberate.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • According to the suit, the issues led to at least one collision and two train breakdowns that stranded hundreds of travelers in the heat.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of collision
Noun
  • To [React with exaggerated surprise] is to DO A DOUBLE TAKE — as in, to take out double letters (not consecutive ones, mind you).
    — Sam Corbin, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Buckhead is far from a tranquil neighborhood, so this little oasis is a welcome surprise.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of surprise
Noun
  • Yes, because it’s made of durable Gorilla Glass to prevent scuffs and scratches.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
  • And perhaps most importantly — why do longevity clinics include scratch-and-sniff smell tests as part of their treatments?
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • The two of them together, just 17 months apart, shared playlists, bickered over where to stop during Apple CarPlay calls, pulled up beside me and faded away with silly faces, encapsulating 20 years of my life in my rearview mirror.
    — Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Like law enforcement agents everywhere, they’re disposed to bickering about jurisdiction or pumping each other for off-limits information.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of bicker
Verb
  • The uncertain status of TPS has led to sometime conflicting actions by government agencies or employers.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Performance problems mentioned at termination may also conflict with earlier reviews or records.
    — William Jones, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • The brutalist thump of drummer Moe Tucker renders the showmen in Led Zeppelin and the Who irrelevant.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The Giants lineup even lacked Rafael Devers’ considerable thump for the first time since the Giants traded for him last summer.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of thump
Noun
  • Globally, there is shock and condemnation over how Israel has conducted the war, and how Gaza remains in ruins and cut off from the world a year since the ceasefire.
    — Cara Anna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Luckily, Skechers’ AERO Razor relies on a highly responsive HYPER BURST PRO™ midsole foam with HYPER ARC® rocker technology, a shock-absorbing Arch Fit® insole system, and a forefoot H-Wing™ for explosive energy return.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of shock
Noun
  • Memory is not so much a flow, sometimes, as a series of bumps and scrapes.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The company said the agent bypasses the personalization and other features built into the shopping experience and said Muse appears to capture and store customer credentials and scrape account data.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of scrape

Browse Nearby Words

japing
jar
jargon
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jar. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inscrutable

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All