as in sailor
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel
a book about the adventurous lives of tars, skippers, and pirates of the 18th century
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to soil
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of tar
Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Heavy and sour crude oil is what it’s called (and much of it is extra-heavy or tar-like).
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
WikiLeaks is often tarred with a couple of brushes that are not fair or accurate.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tar
Noun
In a lawsuit filed Friday, the states’ attorneys general called the child-care fund freeze nakedly political, saying the administration has weaponized allegations of fraud to blame immigrants for holes in the safety net and tar political rivals as corrupt.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Heavy and sour crude oil is what it’s called (and much of it is extra-heavy or tar-like).
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
As Jimmy Page says, guitars were tarred by the brush of rock and roll.
—Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
WikiLeaks is often tarred with a couple of brushes that are not fair or accurate.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tar
Noun
-
The only item that was written down in his will was John’s beloved scrimshaw set—sailor’s carvings made from whales’ teeth.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The Treasure is home to an expansive supervised area exclusive to its youngest sailors.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Volcanic soil old enough to shame continents.—
John Noakes,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
-
If the jeans are new but heavily soiled, add one tablespoon of laundry detergent to remove the soil.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Last week’s whale sightings by the Aquarium led the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to implement a voluntary slow speed zone called a Dynamic Management Area (DMA) for mariners to reduce their speed to 10 knots to protect the whales.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Wander the gear aisles where gadgets promise to turn anyone into a better mariner, chef, parent and human being.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The spoon even comes with measuring lines for a teaspoon and tablespoon, saving you from having to dirty another utensil.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The adventurous actress dirties up her frock and face to play the village pariah, who reeks of fish and would be no man’s idea of a suitable wife, except perhaps the one-eyed bum who sleeps in the town square.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt, dry mustard, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika; turn to coat.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Season the steaks liberally with salt and brown them well for three minutes on each side.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The attorneys went on to argue that Pavlovich’s lawsuits were the culmination of a plan to smear Gaiman and that any legal disputes should be resolved in New Zealand, not the United States.—
Todd Richmond,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
As a result, calls for action have been met with suspicion, with some online commentators accusing feminists of making up MaskPark as a way to smear Chinese men.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The navigator advised them to sign the paperwork and said the loss estimate could be adjusted later, Lowe said.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The shelter will be open only to Elk Grove residents or those with deep ties to the city, verified through a vetting process, and who receive referrals from the city’s homeless services navigators or police officers.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Then move on to large appliance fronts—specifically, those stainless steel fridges and ovens that are easily smudged.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Valentinetti was tasked with smudging out his work, which has left a ghost-like white blob on the angel’s body.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tar. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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