mar 1 of 2

mar

2 of 2

verb

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word mar distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of mar are damage, harm, hurt, impair, and injure. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

the text is marred by many typos

When is it sensible to use damage instead of mar?

While in some cases nearly identical to mar, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When might harm be a better fit than mar?

The words harm and mar can be used in similar contexts, but harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When is hurt a more appropriate choice than mar?

In some situations, the words hurt and mar are roughly equivalent. However, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When can impair be used instead of mar?

The words impair and mar are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

In what contexts can injure take the place of mar?

The meanings of injure and mar largely overlap; however, injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

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 mar
Verb
During a season when even the most successful night of the year is marred by a devastating injury to the team’s best player, there are still glimmers of hope for the Dolphins. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025 Coming off a much-needed bye week, the reeling Charlotte 49ers are marred by injuries, and Tim Albin’s Tuesday press conference shed light on what looks to be season-long struggles. Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025 The case confounded investigators for years, while the case was marred by false confessions, allegations of intimidation, and thousands of tips. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025 Infractions alone essentially marred two second-half drives for Denver's offense. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mar
Noun
  • But its stock’s advance has lagged that of rival GM as costly recalls to fix quality defects have detracted from Farley’s strategic refocusing and efforts to improve profit margins.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • By protecting tungsten diselenide’s atomic-scale defects, the coating dramatically improved photon reliability.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The work captures life between Mount Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples, where the ground shakes periodically and the fumaroles of the Phlegraean Fields taint the air.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Some of Blair's fellow Brits say the same Blair's decisions about Iraq still taint his reputation at home.
    Lauren Frayer, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Police in England said one of the two Jewish community members killed and one of the victims injured during an attack at a synagogue on Yom Kippur are now believed to have been struck by police gunfire as officers tried to stop the attacker.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The kids associate helicopters with life flights to the local hospital, a sign that someone has been seriously injured, Cornelison said.
    John Wisely, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Psycho is a film that has left scars.
    Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
  • Despite the social stigma surrounding tattoos in Vietnam, Ngoc empowers her clients, including breast cancer survivors and women with self-harm scars, to reclaim their bodies, demonstrating that her work is a profound act of compassion and resilience.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Arsenal host Chelsea in the coming weeks, a two-pronged opportunity for both spoiling and redemption.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Furthermore, exposure to moisture or extreme temperatures (common in laundry rooms) can cause powdered detergents to harden and liquid detergents to spoil.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • At the same time, people familiar with the investigation told me that Khan has devoted much of his defense to convincing investigators that Israel and its allies are exploiting the accuser in order to damage him and the court.
    David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
  • This common strain releases a toxin that can damage blood vessels in the intestines and kidneys, which can cause serious complications like kidney damage.
    Brandi Jones, Health, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Dark brown blotches of varying sizes dot their sides and back.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
  • This fungal disease appears as gray blotches on the bark, eventually developing into sunken cankers.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Skipping regular washes—Letting white towels sit too long between washes gives body oils, makeup, and mildew more time to settle into the fibers and stain them permanently.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
  • For years, the fashion industry’s color palette has come at a steep price—plastic-heavy pigments, toxic dyes and dirty processes that stain more than fabric.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mar. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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