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
Whole cobs of corn are cleaned of their silk, tucked back into their husks, and placed on the grill to char. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026 Their outer layers char or vaporize while carrying heat away from the vehicle. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
Grill, covered, until husks are charred and kernels are tender and browned in spots, 15 to 18 minutes, turning occasionally. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026 Morawetz also points to baking and air-frying as favorite preparation methods, noting that charring or blackening from direct high-heat grilling can be linked to health risks. — Embry Roberts, Martha Stewart, 30 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
  • When Molly pushes the bell, the housekeeper, Gregoria, slides open a panel about six inches high in the door.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Wash and Dry It Properly For down, feather, and polyester pillows, Audrey Goh, an executive housekeeper at Halekulani, says washing and thoroughly drying them can help restore loft, as this breaks down sweat and oil buildup.
    — Colleen Sullivan, Martha Stewart, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of housekeeper
Verb
  • Sudan’s civil war turned its national museum into a battlefield and crime scene, with ancient statues shattered, skeletal remains scorched and vaults of gold looted.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The right side of the plane had what appeared to be scorch marks.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of scorch
Noun
  • Ella Beatty plays the daughter of a well-to-do New England family who develops a close relationship with her maid after abuse from her parents.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Creative liberties include a romance between Borden and the family’s live-in maid, Bridget Sullivan (Vicky Krieps).
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of maid
Verb
  • Wills had been in a meeting and recalled a fireball flying past and singeing her bangs.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of singe
Verb
  • Danish filmmaker May el-Toukhy, one of the two female directors competing for the Golden Lion this year, in Venice with a sharp, searing analysis of the women thrown to the wolves in the aftermath of World War II.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Add chicken skin-side down and cook till golden and seared, 5 to 6 minutes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of sear
Verb
  • European space officials hope a jolt of competition will light a fire under the continent’s rocket industry.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2026
  • This world’s heavens are lit with cosmic rays, its cityscapes otherworldly — everything seems to service an unabashed romanticism.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 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 11 Sep. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about char

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