tar 1 of 2

noun

ˈtär How to pronounce tar (audio)
Definition of tarnext
as in sailor
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel a book about the adventurous lives of tars, skippers, and pirates of the 18th century

Synonyms & Similar Words

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tar

2 of 2

verb

as in to soil

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Dissimilar Words

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 tar
Noun
In 2012 an angler pulled a brown bullhead out of a lake on the Vermont-Quebec border with what looked like tar smeared across its skin. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The plasma process also produced very little smoke or tar, reducing harmful secondary pollutants typically associated with biomass conversion and making the technology a cleaner way to produce renewable solid fuel. — New Atlas, 1 July 2026
Verb
It was tarred, feathered and run out of town on a Brightline rail. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026 House Bill 1095 is a good piece of legislation tarred by a bad amendment that loosens requirements for public notices. — The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tar
  1. sailor
  2. soil
  3. mariner
  4. dirty
  5. salt
  6. smear
  7. navigator
  8. smudge
Noun
  • The United States has more than 50,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines stationed throughout Japan, including on several bases in Okinawa, an island chain in the south.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Chasing rumors, sailors left hundreds of ships abandoned in the harbor.
    — Richard Kreitner, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of sailor
Verb
  • Heavily soiled laundry like muddy workwear can also benefit from warmer water.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Three boxes of fries were found on the floor in the walk-in cooler, soiled with a mixture of water and raw chicken juice.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • Seas will also begin to lower as the nor'easter pulls away, but inexperienced mariners and small vessels are encouraged to stay docked on Monday as rough seas and gusty winds are still likely.
    — Sarah Wroblewski, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • For example, Kingsborough Community College, located in South Brooklyn, where the Sheepshead and Jamaica Bays meet the Atlantic Ocean, operates a maritime technology program that is training the next generation of local mariners.
    — Julie Raskin, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of mariner
Verb
  • To even wade into the arguments might dirty your hands, and mind.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Satisfy your lasagna craving without dirtying up a pile of dishes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
Definition of dirty
Noun
  • The Sea to Soul treatment, for example, uses soothing Pacific seaweed fronds, warm kelp water, and a green tea seaweed salt glow exfoliation to target muscle tension and a glacial clay mask to firm the skin.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In a deep 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) baking dish, add the garlic, onions, peppers, 4 tablespoons olive oil, the red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of salt
Verb
  • Following Tuesday’s baseline dust-up after a foul on Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson confronted a fan, leading Cloud to take to Threads and smear both the Indiana Fever organization and the spectator.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Sweat glistened on the white foundation smeared across her face.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of smear
Noun
  • The navigator also suggested the Orlando area’s Lynx transportation system, which Holmes said would cost his family money.
    — Justin Garcia, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026
  • And of the 93 Hope navigators on the payroll today, 54 were already working for DCF before the program launched in September 2021.
    — Sharmila Venkatasubban, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of navigator
Verb
  • Even the more dramatic elements like dark liner and smoky eyes are showing up smudged and diffused.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The screen also has a matte texture that reduces glare and doesn’t seem to easily smudge.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of smudge

Browse Nearby Words

taps
tar
taradiddle
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on tar

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tar

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