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
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 Here are the definitive recipes for timeless favorites like roast chicken, scalloped potatoes, Caesar salad, quiche, simple pan-seared salmon filets, fettuccine alfredo, plus some of Martha’s signature desserts like apple tarte tatin, New York cheesecake, and tangy lemon bars. Jennifer Anderson, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026 This comes after LaBeouf, 39, had been spotted hanging out in the NOLA area over the weekend and frequenting various bars for the city's annual Mardi Gras celebration, according to The Hollywood Reporter and TMZ. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026 Weir stuck with RatDog, who were transitioning from bars and clubs to theaters. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026 Owning bars or coins means holding a tangible asset with no ties to any company or government, one that is highly liquid and can be converted to cash quickly when circumstances demand it. Kelly Ernst, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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 However, Civil Code 4910 is more specific and bars common interest developments (HOAs) from doing what other California corporations are allowed to do. Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026 Advertisement Defense Department policy bars active-duty service members from engaging in partisan political activity. Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 15 Feb. 2026 The Justice Department said the documents are needed to assess whether Harvard’s admissions practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination by establishments that receive federal funding. Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 13 Feb. 2026 Catholic practice bars the disclosure of anything divulged in the confessional. Seth Tupper & John Hult, States Newsroom, 12 Feb. 2026 The bill bars local governments from imposing several common zoning restrictions on the construction of ADUs — like requiring homeowners to live on the property or to increase parking space on their land. Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026 Davis was referring to Senate Bill 4, a 2017 state law that bars local governments from limiting enforcement of federal immigration laws and allows penalties — including removal from office — for officials who do. Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026 This law bars county agencies from collecting or sharing immigration and citizenship information, as well as assisting with detaining or deporting individuals. Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 5 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
  • Kitchen appliances can have a greasy residue, and microfiber cloths can trap oils and spread them over the surface of your stainless steel surfaces, attracting more grime and leaving streaks.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry with a microfiber cloth to prevent streaks.
    Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 17 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
  • Local pizzerias expect to do plenty of business on Super Bowl Sunday, but the same won’t necessarily be true for Elgin-area restaurants and pubs whose owners say pro football’s biggest game of the year doesn’t generate big bucks.
    Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
  • To relax, people can hit one of the city's many pubs or sip on afternoon tea.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 27 Jan. 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
  • The bill prohibits cities and counties from decreasing funding for public safety, which representatives from the local governments say isn’t possible.
    Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
  • The ban prohibits any outdoor burning, including campfires and yard waste.
    Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bars. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.

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