as in rower
a person who drives a boat forward by means of oars
"All oars ho!" the boatswain ordered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 oar
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
Hang a pennant above your fireplace, style a small stack of posters in a hallway, or layer art with an oar near a bookshelf to bring just the right amount of campcore to your walls.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 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
An errant oar and how 'hope floats' Andrew Diggs was among those who responded as part of a joint search and rescue team with TEXSAR and Heroes for Humanity to help find people who vanished in the flood.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
Hang a pennant above your fireplace, style a small stack of posters in a hallway, or layer art with an oar near a bookshelf to bring just the right amount of campcore to your walls.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 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
-
See You At The Finish Line follows Lucas, a sharp-witted, working-class rower, and George, an American golden-boy captain, whose uneasy alliance evolves into a tender but combustible love story against the backdrop of the famous boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
2 Sep. 2025
-
With a garland of white flowers in front of him, a lone rower kneeling in a wooden canoe glided toward the DuSable Bridge docks.—
William Tong,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But several paddled their craft all the way, including Keeya Wiki.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
-
With two to three tours going out each day (depending on the season)—there’s plenty of opportunity to burn some calories paddling while soaking up the magic of Turkey Creek.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These Scottish brothers recently rowed 9,000 miles across the world’s largest ocean — and set two world records.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Of course, this malady could be overcome by ordering a DSG automatic GLI, but then any fun gleaned by rowing your gears is also lost.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Like going to Tahoe and kayaking in the two person kayak is like, that's like part of it.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
30 July 2025
-
Many travelers visit the lake to kayak in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.—
Mia Thurow,
jsonline.com,
18 July 2020
Verb
-
The next day unfolds upon arrival at Workington, gateway to the Lake District, where guests have options to canoe or paddleboard on Derwentwater Lake, meet friendly alpacas, or play classic lawn games at the Lingholm Estate, which is open exclusively to Britannic Explorer guests.—
Ann Shields,
AFAR Media,
26 Aug. 2025
-
The Troop 2054 member said her favorite Girl Scout memory was of canoeing down the Colorado River with her troop.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oar. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share