bars 1 of 2

Definition of barsnext
plural of bar
1
as in beams
a straight piece (as of wood or metal) that is longer than it is wide all of the prison's windows are partially covered with steel bars

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2
as in streaks
a line or long narrow section differing in color from the background the cat had a bar of white down her throat

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3
as in mounds
a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow) more than one boater has run aground on that treacherous bar of sand in the river

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4
5
as in tribunals
an assembly of persons for the administration of justice rather than try and convict the alleged murderer in the mass media, let justice be done at the bar

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6
7
as in standards
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared we need to raise the bar for what is acceptable behavior in this situation

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bars

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bar
1
as in stripes
to make stripes on barred the fence with white strips

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2
3
4
as in guards
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point the bikeway was barred by a huge fallen tree

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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 bars
Noun
Sun Princess has 30 restaurants and bars, so describing each in detail isn’t possible here. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026 Kudos Bars Kudos Bars were really just candy bars masquerading as granola bars, often covered with M&Ms or Snickers bits. Kara Nesvig, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026 Now, after nearly a year behind bars, the young men are free — part of a wave of releases under a new amnesty law that is reigniting debate over the country’s justice system. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026 Visitors can explore local merchant booths and restaurants and bars near City Hall and The Aztec Theater. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026 Ronald Bryant, 56, pleaded no contest to assault and two counts of false imprisonment and was sentenced in late December to four years behind bars. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026 The New Mexico measure prohibits state and local government contracts for ICE detention facilities and bars agreements that allow local law officers to carry out federal immigration functions. David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026 Western explained to Kokonas that one thing that always reminds them of bars in Chicago is walking home in the middle of the night and seeing all the rabbits hopping around in different neighborhoods. Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026 Dollar Tree's new Dubai Chocolaty cones are filled with pistachio and chocolate cream, inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bars made with a rich pistachio and crispy kataifi (shredded phyllo) spread. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
The state prosecutors said the Justice Department should review the merger under the Clayton Act, an antitrust law that bars mergers that may substantially lessen competition or create a monopoly. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026 Many of the names appeared to be of Tajik origin, even though, as the outlet noted, Tajik law bars its citizens from fighting in foreign wars. Sophie Spiegelberger, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026 Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the court, said the law broadly bars complaints involving lost or missing mail. Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026 The order bars Attorney General Pam Bondi or her successors from releasing or sharing that portion of the final report. Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026 The law generally bars increases of more than 10% in the price of most goods and services in affected areas and is intended to protect residents from unfair price spikes during the disaster. Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 21 Feb. 2026 State law bars law enforcement and court officials from disclosing an expunged case to the public. Amber Gaudet updated February 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026 In Texas, no law bars the teaching of race or gender. Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026 The bill, which passed along party lines 54-45 on Tuesday, bars anyone age 75 or older from being elected or appointed to such positions. Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bars
Noun
  • Elsewhere in the hotel, the look is rustic and Mediterranean, combining traditional elements like wooden ceiling beams, elegant canopies draped over king-size beds, and carpets made of natural fibers.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The researchers used focused ion beams to mill the QR code onto the ceramic film, with individual pixels measuring just 49 nanometers each.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Those all-weather shoes were paired with an array of trenches, from ones with dramatic ruffled collars to some with sparkly fringe, like streaks of rain.
    Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
  • This can simply be done with clean water to prevent any visible streaks.
    Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • By the time the sun rose at the shore, the video showed a winter wonderland, with mounds of untouched snow covering trees and homes.
    Phil Helsel, NBC news, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The island used to be the home of the Waccamaw tribe of Native Americans, and over the years, burial mounds, ceramics, and other artifacts have been discovered throughout the area.
    Abby Price, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Previous Irish pubs in the area just felt like watering holes that served Guinness (and most bars serve Guinness nowadays anyway).
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Basically, various countries rent out cool venues in Milan — from historic halls to popular pubs — to use as home bases for fans and events, some private and some open to the public by reservation.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Several oil companies sought compensation through international tribunals and arbitrators.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
  • The Nuremberg trials also helped to establish precedents used in later international criminal tribunals, including those in the wake of the Bosnian war and Rwandan genocide, and influenced the formation of the International Criminal Court, which began operating in 2002 in The Hague.
    B.B. Blaber, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Yards with narrow passages, tight corners, and many obstacles like trees, shrubs, or garden beds, or steep inclines make the use of a riding lawnmower, especially a traditional riding mower, more tedious than helpful.
    Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Parents may go to great lengths to remove obstacles from their child’s path, unintentionally hindering the development of life skills1.
    Jazmin Towe, Parents, 22 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The judge ruled that the Legislature had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters.
    David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Environmental advocates opposed relying on voluntary agreements as the plan’s primary pathway, instead pushing for firm, enforceable minimum flow standards, while water agencies continued to support the voluntary approach.
    Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Brakman Reiser added that the IRS prohibits using DAF assets to buy gala tickets or support private foundations or non-501(c)(3) organizations.
    Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
  • This usually prohibits wearing offensive and inappropriate clothing, as well as being barefoot.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bars. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.

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