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 WebCharna 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
This is comforting in a way: Visionary surgeons are constantly moving the needle toward undetectable results, shorter scars, and easier recoveries, but without forsaking the fundamentals that have long kept patients safe.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 1 May 2024
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
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
Photos taken from the air enable researchers to identify individuals and so monitor whale population trends, births and deaths, ocean habitat use patterns, health and rates of scarring from entanglements and collisions with ships.
—Joshua Reed, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2024
Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform Treatment Serum This is a gentle retinol that helps with collagen production, acne, acne scarring, and hyperpigmentation, says David Kim, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in NYC.
—Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024
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
Noun
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
This is comforting in a way: Visionary surgeons are constantly moving the needle toward undetectable results, shorter scars, and easier recoveries, but without forsaking the fundamentals that have long kept patients safe.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 1 May 2024
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
Verb
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
Photos taken from the air enable researchers to identify individuals and so monitor whale population trends, births and deaths, ocean habitat use patterns, health and rates of scarring from entanglements and collisions with ships.
—Joshua Reed, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2024
Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform Treatment Serum This is a gentle retinol that helps with collagen production, acne, acne scarring, and hyperpigmentation, says David Kim, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in NYC.
—Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024
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
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 10 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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