1
: an isolated or protruding rock
2
: a steep rocky eminence : a bare place on the side of a mountain
1
: a mark remaining (as on the skin) after injured tissue has healed
2
: a mark left where something was previously attached : cicatrix sense 2
especially
: a mark left on a stem or branch where a leaf or fruit has separated
3
: a mark or indentation (as on furniture) resulting from damage or wear
4
: a lasting moral or emotional injury
one of his men had been killed … in a manner that left a scar upon his mind—
H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells
scarred; scarring
Synonyms
Examples of scar in a Sentence
Verb
His arm was badly scarred after the accident.
The tragedy left her emotionally scarred.
Your shoes are scarring the floor.
The fence was scarred by rust.
Recent Examples on the WebAria Bendix, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024
Dead dolphins aren’t observable, and living dolphins who survive attacks may not always bear scars.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
The dogs' stories Indeed, each of the dogs has those street scars and a story — often a sad one.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
But not without some lasting scars, including being blind in one eye.
—Andrew Limbong, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Advertisement In Monterey County, heavy rain in burn scars sent silt and debris into catch basins and stormwater conveyance systems, overwhelming them and resulting in tens of thousands of cubic yards of material that had to be trucked long distance for disposal, Newsom wrote.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
More recently, the Two Ts In A Pod host showed off how well her surgical scar was healing last month in a side-by-side photo.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Additionally, for individuals with dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation, alpha hydroxy acid can help even out skin tone and texture.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024
The 9/11 attacks and the wars that followed fundamentally rearranged the American national-security apparatus, destabilized the Middle East, and left lasting scars on the American body politic.
—Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
Ewa Krukowska, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, deeper needle depths are needed for surgery, injury, and acne scarring.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
The Comcast boss is watching an unceasing five-alarm fire rage at 30 Rock, scarring the reputation of NBC News and threatening to consume multiple parts of the Cesar Conde-run NBC Universal News Group.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Even though phone screens have gotten much better, the replacement process is scarring enough to make anyone just buy the dang screen protector.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024
Athill doesn’t treat her foibles and losses—of love, of money, of caste, of certainty—as traumas, events that would define her life as troubled and scarring.
—Hillary Kelly, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2024
For scarring that doesn't improve with these products, your healthcare provider may suggest other treatments, including dermal filler injections, dermabrasion, and laser therapy.
—Sheeren Jegtvig, Verywell Health, 15 Feb. 2024
Translation: Less trauma to the skin, no perceptible scarring, longer-lasting results (up to 15 years), and improved definition—that key indicator of success—throughout the jaw, cheeks, chin, and neck.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024
Doing so is a surefire way to cause more inflammation and possibly acne scarring.
—Angela Palmer, Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2024
Noun
People get vampire facials to plump up sagging skin and reduce the appearance of acne scars or wrinkles, but according to the American Academy of Dermatology, there’s little evidence to support those claims.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024
Dead dolphins aren’t observable, and living dolphins who survive attacks may not always bear scars.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
The dogs' stories Indeed, each of the dogs has those street scars and a story — often a sad one.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
But not without some lasting scars, including being blind in one eye.
—Andrew Limbong, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Advertisement In Monterey County, heavy rain in burn scars sent silt and debris into catch basins and stormwater conveyance systems, overwhelming them and resulting in tens of thousands of cubic yards of material that had to be trucked long distance for disposal, Newsom wrote.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
More recently, the Two Ts In A Pod host showed off how well her surgical scar was healing last month in a side-by-side photo.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Additionally, for individuals with dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation, alpha hydroxy acid can help even out skin tone and texture.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024
The 9/11 attacks and the wars that followed fundamentally rearranged the American national-security apparatus, destabilized the Middle East, and left lasting scars on the American body politic.
—Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
Verb
Consumers, still scarred by the cost-of-living crisis, are wary of anything that might hit their pockets, and businesses are pushing back against excessive regulation.
—Ewa Krukowska, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, deeper needle depths are needed for surgery, injury, and acne scarring.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
The Comcast boss is watching an unceasing five-alarm fire rage at 30 Rock, scarring the reputation of NBC News and threatening to consume multiple parts of the Cesar Conde-run NBC Universal News Group.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Even though phone screens have gotten much better, the replacement process is scarring enough to make anyone just buy the dang screen protector.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024
Athill doesn’t treat her foibles and losses—of love, of money, of caste, of certainty—as traumas, events that would define her life as troubled and scarring.
—Hillary Kelly, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2024
For scarring that doesn't improve with these products, your healthcare provider may suggest other treatments, including dermal filler injections, dermabrasion, and laser therapy.
—Sheeren Jegtvig, Verywell Health, 15 Feb. 2024
Translation: Less trauma to the skin, no perceptible scarring, longer-lasting results (up to 15 years), and improved definition—that key indicator of success—throughout the jaw, cheeks, chin, and neck.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024
Doing so is a surefire way to cause more inflammation and possibly acne scarring.
—Angela Palmer, Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near scar
Cite this Entry
“Scar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scar. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scar
1 of 2 noun1
: a mark left (as on the skin) after injured tissue has healed
2
: a mark on a stem or branch where a leaf or fruit has separated
3
: a mark (as on furniture) resembling a scar
4
: a lasting injury from a bad experience
scar
2 of 2 verb
scarred; scarring
1
: to mark with or form a scar
2
: to do lasting injury to
3
: to become scarred
Medical Definition
scar
1 of 2 noun1
: a mark left (as in the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
2
: a lasting emotional injury
psychological scars
scar
2 of 2 verb
scarred; scarring
: to mark with a scar
scarred heart valves
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