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
Capsules commonly carry ablative shields made from materials designed to char and gradually wear away. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026 Add the skewers and grill until char marks form on the first side, 2 to 3 minutes. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
Bangkok Kunsthalle, in Chinatown, opened in 2024 in a former academic publishing house that was ravaged by a fire 25 years ago; the mazelike interior, some of it still charred, is a surprisingly compelling stage for art. — Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Authorities spotted a woman walking between a vehicle and a nearby pole, which showed signs of charring and smelled of gasoline. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 6 Oct. 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
  • Jude’s modern twist on Octave Mirbeau’s novel follows Gianina (Ana Dumitrașcu), a Romanian migrant working as a live-in housekeeper and nanny for a wealthy family in present-day Bordeaux.
    — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • To try that one, the salesperson first had to turn down the covers for us like a mother with her children or a housekeeper in a fancy hotel.
    — Jaklin Romine Oct. 15, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of housekeeper
Verb
  • The Norte fire — the most devastating blaze — scorched more than 570 acres in residential neighborhoods in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, damaging or destroying at least six homes.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That was the update last week at a meeting of the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG), a confab of scientists whose research interests focus on the scorching world just sunward from Earth.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of scorch
Noun
  • Adelaide said, with a vehemence that frightened Masha, the maid trying to spoon medicine into her clenched mouth.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
  • This is the kind of show where an opulent tea party is dramatized not just by many different plates of fancy pastries, fancy wreaths and lots of furniture, but by having all that stuff carted in by a dozen or so butlers, maids and other servants.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of maid
Verb
  • Strain cocktail over and garnish with a rosemary sprig, briefly singed over a flame, if desired.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Wills had been in a meeting and recalled a fireball flying past and singeing her bangs.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of singe
Verb
  • In the second half of the album Libertad blossoms into a masterpiece, with its sonic intensity and searing political messages balanced by playful production.
    — Vanessa Diaz, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026
  • For steak specifically, the recommendation is to use beef tallow right before searing to get a deep, flavorful crust that locks in juices and delivers a restaurant-quality finish.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of sear
Verb
  • The first practical transformer was switched on about 15 miles down the road, in 1886, when William Stanley lit stores and offices lining Great Barrington’s Main Street.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Taking a shower, changing your clothes or lighting a candle after work can also create a transition.
    — Melody Wilding, Contributor, CNBC, 20 Oct. 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 24 Oct. 2026.

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