as in ancient
dating or surviving from the distant past
the hoar and crumbling stones of ruined temples
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 hoar
Brandi D. Addison, IndyStar, 4 Dec. 2025
The hidden layer of fragile surface hoar, with facets playing a contributing role, is now the failure point for large and unpredictable slabs of snow.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024
There are many different kinds of frost: crystalline (hoar) frost, white frost, black frost, advection frost, and the frost that forms on glass windows, to name a few.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
During cold weather the moisture precipitates out of the air onto every branch and willow bush, coating them in a layer of hoar frost.
—Seth Adams, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 May 2023
Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Jan. 2022
Furthermore, the clear conditions preceding the storm could have led to the formation of a layer of light, feathery frost, known as surface hoar.
—Douglas Preston, The New Yorker, 10 May 2021
YESTERDAY’S WORD — ANCHORS acorn arch arson nacho nosh cash chaos char corn crash hoar hora horn orach orca racon ranch rash roach roan scan scar scorn shorn soar sonar sora
To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com.
—Kathleen Saxe, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2017
But sometimes the crystals grow particularly large, forming hoar frost.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2014
Adjective
Terms like graupel, rime ice, and hoar frost describe specific ways ice and frost form on surfaces and in the air.
—Brandi D. Addison, IndyStar, 4 Dec. 2025
The hidden layer of fragile surface hoar, with facets playing a contributing role, is now the failure point for large and unpredictable slabs of snow.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024
There are many different kinds of frost: crystalline (hoar) frost, white frost, black frost, advection frost, and the frost that forms on glass windows, to name a few.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
During cold weather the moisture precipitates out of the air onto every branch and willow bush, coating them in a layer of hoar frost.
—Seth Adams, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 May 2023
Noun
The hoar frost made the trees sparkle as though Earthquake Park were contained in a snow globe.
—Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Jan. 2022
Furthermore, the clear conditions preceding the storm could have led to the formation of a layer of light, feathery frost, known as surface hoar.
—Douglas Preston, The New Yorker, 10 May 2021
YESTERDAY’S WORD — ANCHORS acorn arch arson nacho nosh cash chaos char corn crash hoar hora horn orach orca racon ranch rash roach roan scan scar scorn shorn soar sonar sora
To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com.
—Kathleen Saxe, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2017
But sometimes the crystals grow particularly large, forming hoar frost.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2014
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoar
Adjective
-
Summer means movies 🍿 From ancient Greece to a galaxy far, far away, the summer movie season has a blockbuster lineup of epic, sci-fi, superheroes and heroines to draw film fans to theaters.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Each year, the city welcomes many curious visitors to experience the magnetism of ancient tradition meeting futuristic technology head-on.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
My trusty old Farmer’s Almanac tells me May 4 is the average date for a spring frost along the Lake Michigan shoreline; in interior Lake County, such as in Lake Villa, on average, April 30.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
-
Thursday will feature another chilly start, with frost and freeze risk overnight.—
Joseph Dames,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Allen recorded the project at Austin’s venerable Arlyn Studios, with renowned guitarist — and mentor to Allen — Charlie Sexton co-producing along with Jacob Sciba.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
4 May 2026
-
The multistory stretch of tiny shops and restaurants is a popular haunt for vintage hunters and manga fans, while its venerable greengrocers and drug shops still provide the daily necessities for local residents.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Senior second baseman Alexis Richter has learned a lot about playing softball from her three older sisters.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The 73-year-old Weinstein kept his eyes trained on Mann throughout her Tuesday testimony, intermittently whispering to his attorney, Teny Geragos.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That hoary image remains compelling.—
Sam Lipsyte,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
-
The most common species of bats found in Grand Teton National Park are little brown bats, followed by big brown, silver-haired, hoary, Yuma, long-legged, and long-eared bats, the agency said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The constellation was known as Al Fakkah to medieval Arabian astronomers, who saw in it a celestial bowl, per the University of Chicago.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
9 May 2026
-
Our stroll began outside the medieval gate—only residents can drive through the stone ramparts—and ended with an aperitif on the square.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
In some cases, those were made using antique books and aged paper to better mimic the look of archival documentation before being attached to the works themselves.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Years ago a friend visiting New Mexico went there and bought an antique sterling silver bell to tie around her cat’s neck, which seemed like something either Holly Golightly or Marie Antoinette would have done.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hoar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoar. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
