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
Noun (1)
at the next bend in the river, a scar of red sandstone steeply rises to over 100 feet
Noun (2)
the scars left by carelessly scratching the car door with one's keys
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 WebSophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 8 May 2024
Buy Now on Noble Panacea: $300 Best Dark Spot Corrector: Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides
Photo : Medik8
If other solutions for lingering scars from shaving or acne haven’t worked, try this hyperpigmentation serum that targets such marks with 1 percent oxyresveratrol.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 8 May 2024
The wound closed within 8 days and fully healed within 1 month, leaving only a faint scar.
—Bykermit Pattison, science.org, 2 May 2024
However, the spot needed to be surgically removed and left a 9-inch scar underneath her right breast.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
My partner had a long scar on her face, starting near her eye.
—Brittney Griner, TIME, 3 May 2024
There are physical and emotional scars that last forever, and these can be passed on from generation to generation.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
Some creams are believed to keep these scars at bay.
—Tiffany Eve Lawrence, Parents, 3 May 2024
The violence that unfolded 56 years ago left lasting scars.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 1 May 2024
Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2024
During the 2008 global financial crisis, her 401(k) lost a third of its value, which was a scarring experience.
—Michael Steinberger Malcolm Hillgartner Tanya Pérez Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 8 May 2024
Specifically, the Apple Watch is qualified for use as a secondary endpoint in clinical trials for cardiac ablation devices, which reduce the electrical signals that cause A-fib by scarring the heart with extreme heat or cold energy.
—Mario Aguilar, STAT, 8 May 2024
On a recent winter morning, Brooks showed ProPublica and Capital & Main a 3-acre drill site that scars his land and provides him no royalties.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 6 May 2024
The experience has been emotionally scarring for the women, Al-Sayeed explained.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
The most recent is also personal; like up to 10% of women around the world, Griffith has endometriosis, a chronic condition that can take years to diagnose, in which uterine-like cells grow outside of the uterus, leading to inflammation, scarring, and painful periods.
—TIME, 2 May 2024
The Signature Laser Facial helped even out my skin texture and get rid of pesky acne scarring from my teenage years.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 26 Apr. 2024
This complication of long-term heavy drinking causes scarring of the liver.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 26 Mar. 2024
Noun
Our skin texture smoothed out drastically and our scars lightened up.
—Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 8 May 2024
Buy Now on Noble Panacea: $300 Best Dark Spot Corrector: Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides
Photo : Medik8
If other solutions for lingering scars from shaving or acne haven’t worked, try this hyperpigmentation serum that targets such marks with 1 percent oxyresveratrol.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 8 May 2024
The wound closed within 8 days and fully healed within 1 month, leaving only a faint scar.
—Bykermit Pattison, science.org, 2 May 2024
However, the spot needed to be surgically removed and left a 9-inch scar underneath her right breast.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
My partner had a long scar on her face, starting near her eye.
—Brittney Griner, TIME, 3 May 2024
There are physical and emotional scars that last forever, and these can be passed on from generation to generation.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
Some creams are believed to keep these scars at bay.
—Tiffany Eve Lawrence, Parents, 3 May 2024
The violence that unfolded 56 years ago left lasting scars.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 1 May 2024
Verb
These diseases cause scarring of the lung tissue and Endeavor sees the potential to reverse that process.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2024
During the 2008 global financial crisis, her 401(k) lost a third of its value, which was a scarring experience.
—Michael Steinberger Malcolm Hillgartner Tanya Pérez Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 8 May 2024
Specifically, the Apple Watch is qualified for use as a secondary endpoint in clinical trials for cardiac ablation devices, which reduce the electrical signals that cause A-fib by scarring the heart with extreme heat or cold energy.
—Mario Aguilar, STAT, 8 May 2024
On a recent winter morning, Brooks showed ProPublica and Capital & Main a 3-acre drill site that scars his land and provides him no royalties.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 6 May 2024
The experience has been emotionally scarring for the women, Al-Sayeed explained.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
The most recent is also personal; like up to 10% of women around the world, Griffith has endometriosis, a chronic condition that can take years to diagnose, in which uterine-like cells grow outside of the uterus, leading to inflammation, scarring, and painful periods.
—TIME, 2 May 2024
The Signature Laser Facial helped even out my skin texture and get rid of pesky acne scarring from my teenage years.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 26 Apr. 2024
This complication of long-term heavy drinking causes scarring of the liver.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 26 Mar. 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 14 May. 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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