as in rower
a person who drives a boat forward by means of oars
"All oars ho!" the boatswain ordered
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oar
Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026
Rangel went on to describe what happened next, with the men using driftwood oars to attempt to row their vessel to the mainland before heavy winds ran them aground and wrecked the boat.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 13 Dec. 2025
Caroline Van Hemert, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Mute swans do put on bursts of speed by oaring with their huge webbed feet.
—National Geographic, 19 Oct. 2016
See All Example Sentences for oar
Noun
Our boat had oarlocks, but not oars.
—Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026
Rangel went on to describe what happened next, with the men using driftwood oars to attempt to row their vessel to the mainland before heavy winds ran them aground and wrecked the boat.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 13 Dec. 2025
Verb
For centuries, Vikings navigated these waters by sail and oar; today, ferries and charter boats offer comfortable, scenic access to the islands.
—Caroline Van Hemert, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Mute swans do put on bursts of speed by oaring with their huge webbed feet.
—National Geographic, 19 Oct. 2016
See All Example Sentences for oar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oar
Noun
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But in resolving a class action lawsuit against San Diego State University, brought by 15 former SDSU rowers and track and field athletes, that six-figure sum represents a potentially historic breakthrough.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Belarusian rower Yauheni Zalaty won silver and Yauheni Tsikhantsou earned a bronze in weightlifting.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Community ‘heartbroken’ over sewage spill Philip Gray used to enjoy paddling down the river in a canoe or floating in an inner tube, beer in hand, toward his home in Cabin John.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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Days revolve around family time on the sand, paddling on the water, and gobbling scrumptious seafood.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Smith had originally planned to row in shifts, rowing for two hours and taking a break for two hours throughout the day.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
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Storm acknowledges that all families have their issues but, in the end, the Schaefer family seems to have kept everyone basically rowing in the same direction throughout its 10 decades in business.—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In addition to the standard seaside activities, parkgoers can kayak to secluded coves, clam for their dinner, fish, and surf.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2026
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At 16, the Hoopa Valley tribal member was about to kayak more than 300 miles down the Klamath River from its headwaters in southern Oregon.—
The Editors,
Outside,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Try canoeing the Colorado River, ATV riding on the Imperial Sand Dunes, or sample fresh produce because Yuma delights with plentiful agritourism, too.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
4 Jan. 2026
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My childhood was spent in the Blue Ridge Mountains, camping in the Peaks of Otter, and canoeing down the James River.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oar. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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