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Synonyms
Examples of tar in a Sentence
Kashmir Hill, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2023
In any event, my penchant for ordering the most disgusting thing on the menu led me to an inedible monstrosity, a cow’s udder filled with sirop, a reduction of pears and apples with the viscosity of hot tar.
—Lucy Sante, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023
Video from the scene shows traffic cones and warning signs posted around pools of tar that are covered with sand.
—Jeremy Childs, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
The primary location of the tar has been along South Masselin Avenue near Olympic Boulevard in the Miracle Mile neighborhood.
—Jeremy Childs, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Traces of grinding and remnants of tar were also seen on the surface of the arrowhead, indicating that the object was probably used to attach to an arrow, said researchers.
—Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2023
Guerrero-Gonzalez and another gang detective, Noel Lopez, were indicted in 2021 in connection with the search of an East L.A. home that netted a haul of firearms including an assault rifle, a large amount of methamphetamine, black tar heroin and items used to bag and distribute drugs.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023
These soy candles that are infused with pine, cedar and birch tar essential oils are the next best thing to being outside.
—Megan Stein, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2023
At city speeds, the sticky 40-series summer tires pound over tar strips that most other cars ignore, registering them with a bass-drum-like thud that reverberates through the cabin.
—Rich Ceppos, Car and Driver, 22 June 2023
Rachel Chason, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
None of us were tarred and feathered for simply asking the question.
—Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Nov. 2023
Investment has dried up, regulators are cracking down, and the reputation of the businesses that remain standing has been tarred by association.
—WIRED, 27 Sep. 2023
Opponents of feminism in China have tarred the movement as pitching women above men.
—Siyi Zhao, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2023
The animosity toward Henrietta Maria took a familiar form, with critics tarring her as both cold and calculating and promiscuous and flighty.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2023
The opposition, meanwhile, has been divided and tarred by the past failures of the PAN and two other parties in the coalition.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2023
Critics often tar him as a jet-setter, out of touch with the lives of ordinary people.
—Mark Landler, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Oct. 2022
Lawyers for the governor disagreed with the report’s conclusion, arguing that Boylan was not harmed severely enough by efforts to tar her name for those efforts to constitute retaliation.
—BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2021
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Noun
Middle English terr, tarr, from Old English teoru; akin to Old English trēow tree — more at tree entry 1
Verb (2)
Middle English terren, tarren, from Old English tyrwan
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing tar
Dictionary Entries Near tar
Cite this Entry
“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tar. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
tar
2 of 2 verb
Medical Definition
tar
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on tar
Nglish: Translation of tar for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of tar for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tar
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