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
The whiskey was originally distilled between January and June 2015, then aged for 11 years in #3 char American oak barrels. — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The crust achieves that perfect balance of char and chew, and the toppings are minimal but impeccable. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
Verb
Ormund, the snooty, temperamental head of House Hightower, is shown charred beyond recognition in the episode's final moments. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 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 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
  • Born in Mexico to a left-wing Catalan family, Adela’s spiritual and intellectual formation came from her grandparents, while her emotional nourishment was the realm of the housekeeper/nanny Paula (Teresita Sánchez).
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The father put his daughter to bed and told his housekeeper he would be gone for a while.
    — Matthew Herper, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of housekeeper
Verb
  • Apparent human skeletal remains, including a jaw with the teeth still attached, were found at Lake Mead on Sunday, officials said, as water levels sink to new lows amid a drought and scorching heat in the West.
    — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Highs Friday topped out at a cool 79 degrees for Sacramento, 85 for Modesto, and only 91 for normally-scorching Fresno.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of scorch
Noun
  • Sullivan was an Irish immigrant who had been working as a maid for the Bordens for more than two years.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) Communications via AP Hines stabbed Jenkins to death while the 54-year-old was working as a motel maid in Kingston Springs.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 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 cataclysm is indelibly seared into La Guaira’s collective consciousness.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Over the years, however, the actress has proven herself remarkably versatile, pivoting nimbly from frothy rom-coms and broad comedies to searing dramas, psychological thrillers, and big-budget spectacles.
    — Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 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 21 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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