as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
the Johnsons complained to the movers about broken dishes and mars on the furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
mar a politician's reputation with scurrilous rumors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to injure
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
the once glossy surface is now marred by numerous small pits and abrasions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 mar
Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Although the company has made major strides since Starship debuted in 2023, a spate of four failures marred its progress this year, including two explosions that rained debris over parts of the Caribbean.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025
The criminal trial against the five players was widely followed across Canada and the sports world, and it was marred by logistical legal issues, including Judge Carroccia originally dismissing the trial in mid-May over the players’ defense attorneys’ behavior in court.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Rosen Gonzalez’s first term on the City Commission, starting in 2015, was marred by five separate ethics complaints against her.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mar
Verb
Injuries have marred a promising season for the Danish forward.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Although the company has made major strides since Starship debuted in 2023, a spate of four failures marred its progress this year, including two explosions that rained debris over parts of the Caribbean.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025
The criminal trial against the five players was widely followed across Canada and the sports world, and it was marred by logistical legal issues, including Judge Carroccia originally dismissing the trial in mid-May over the players’ defense attorneys’ behavior in court.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Rosen Gonzalez’s first term on the City Commission, starting in 2015, was marred by five separate ethics complaints against her.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mar
Noun
-
The inspection program would find and repair defects mitigated before reaching a critical state.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Other higher-risk groups include those with congenital heart defects or disorders, structural heart problems, or a history of coronary artery disease or heart failure.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One year ago, Martinsville was tainted by race manipulation on two counts.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
That means Zaha will be suspended for Game 1 of the playoffs against NYCFC, which tainted an otherwise near-perfect evening for the home team.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Earlier, the agency said a man in his 70s was killed by a falling tree in the southern coastal town of Marigot, while five people were injured in the Artibonite region.—
Josh Cradduck,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Unless another boy was injured, a boy with a father who resembled me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The lightweight formula delivers hydration to your complexion, which is necessary for minimizing the appearance of scars and marks.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Burn scars on old trees and historical records from early European settlers speak to Indiana forests where regular burning took place.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For the party’s new leadership, running Libertarian candidates and providing an outlet for their voters’ political perspective isn’t spoiling.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The Pistons were whistled for 31 fouls, resulting in 48 Houston free-throw attempts, and still found a way to spoil the Rockets’ home opener.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cuomo has sought to cast Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblymember, as a naive candidate whose agenda would damage the city.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The three suspects damaged property and smashed several iPads taken from a special education classroom, according to a Facebook post by the Chandler Police Department.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
When the disease has progressed to the geographic atrophy stage, the cells deteriorate and die, and people lose their central vision — meaning an object straight ahead may appear blurry or covered up with a dark blotch.—
David Cox,
NBC news,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Dark brown blotches of varying sizes dot their sides and back.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Drone footage shows eight officers approach a motionless Green who appeared slumped over with a large pool of blood staining the driveway.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Foods like coffee, red wine, fruit and vegetable juices, grease and oils, tea, tomato sauce, and spices like turmeric and curry can stain, as well as ink, markers, and some cleaning chemicals.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mar. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share