char 1 of 2

noun

Definition of charnext
British
as in housekeeper
a female domestic servant a busy executive who leaves most of the cooking and cleaning to the char

Synonyms & Similar Words

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char

2 of 2

verb

as in to scorch
to burn on the surface I'd like my hamburger charred, but not cooked through

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 char
Noun
Though the craft of char burning has essentially died out in Germany, Feldmer hopes that his family will keep the tradition alive. — ABC News, 27 July 2026 The stainless set perfectly sears salmon skin, and gives a quick char to green beans or any other sautéed veggie without mushing up the interior. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 20 July 2026
Verb
Cook for one to two minutes to char the spices, then flip and cook for another 30 seconds. — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 7 Aug. 2026 His attorneys said the blast melted decorative lighting on his balcony, charred the railing and melted sections of artificial turf. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for char
Recent Examples of Synonyms for char
  1. housekeeper
  2. scorch
  3. maid
  4. singe
  5. sear
  6. light
Noun
  • The actor said a housekeeper told his family that ‘God spoke to’ her about his trajectory.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The former California governor also shares youngest son Joseph Baena, 28, with former housekeeper Mildred Patricia Baena.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
Definition of housekeeper
Verb
  • Pyroclastic flows – fast-moving clouds of scorching gas, ash, and rock – could devastate territory near the caldera.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The fire began Sunday morning in the Los Padres National Forest southeast of the neighborhood of Loma Vista and quickly scorched 400 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of scorch
Noun
  • Hines stabbed Jenkins to death while the 54-year-old was working as a motel maid in Kingston Springs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Privacy is included with a chef, maid, butler, and handyman for any errands and such.
    — Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of maid
Verb
  • Five digital heat settings make temperature adjustment simple, and the ceramic plates are gentle enough to use on any hair type without singeing.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 18 June 2026
  • An angry deity hurled a firebrand at the swallow, singeing away its middle tail feathers.
    — Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of singe
Verb
  • The grilled Spam and cheese sliders ($16), with thin slices of Spam seared crisp served on Hawaiian buns with pineapple-jalapeno chutney, are a flavor bomb.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But a little more than a minute after launch, the shuttle exploded, sending jagged plumes across the sky creating an image that would be seared into collective memory.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of sear
Verb
  • Hal is arrested, per his plan, as John meets and sleeps with a mysterious woman, Zoe (Poorna Jagannathan), and uses Hal’s ring to light her cigarette after the fact.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • But his appointment also lit a fire among a group of academics - and others - who believe Cambridge and other universities and public bodies are striving too hard to increase their diversity.
    — Rupert Neate, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of light

Browse Nearby Words

chapters
char
character
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Cite this Entry

“Char.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/char. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on char

Nglish: Translation of char for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about char

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