as in defects
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
the scars left by carelessly scratching the car door with one's keys
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in cliffs
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice
at the next bend in the river, a scar of red sandstone steeply rises to over 100 feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scars
Jermont Terry, CBS News, 2 May 2026
In some places, the scars haven’t healed.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Other factors, including scars, bruising, ligature marks and signs of malnutrition, supported evidence of long-term abuse, the warrant affidavit said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Dermatologists recommend a vitamin C serum to help reduce hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and overall skin dullness.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 27 Apr. 2026
Mary, meanwhile, walks away with visible scars, although the real healing was all internal.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
The Wild core has gotten more mature — hardened by scars from past playoffs.
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
In the teen’s case, five large keloids abruptly burst from her chickenpox scars, breaking out in different places on her body—on her right jaw, chest, abdomen, and right flank.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
In 2020, Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft brought samples of an asteroid named Ryugu to Earth — and now, scientists examining those samples found that the object bears the scars of a recent encounter with tiny space rocks.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
The pain is much deeper than the scars.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 2 May 2026
In some places, the scars haven’t healed.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Other factors, including scars, bruising, ligature marks and signs of malnutrition, supported evidence of long-term abuse, the warrant affidavit said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Dermatologists recommend a vitamin C serum to help reduce hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and overall skin dullness.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 27 Apr. 2026
Mary, meanwhile, walks away with visible scars, although the real healing was all internal.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
The Wild core has gotten more mature — hardened by scars from past playoffs.
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
In the teen’s case, five large keloids abruptly burst from her chickenpox scars, breaking out in different places on her body—on her right jaw, chest, abdomen, and right flank.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
In 2020, Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft brought samples of an asteroid named Ryugu to Earth — and now, scientists examining those samples found that the object bears the scars of a recent encounter with tiny space rocks.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scars
Verb
-
Chops, gouges, wounds it like the shadow grooves on the sidewalks—the sun is setting earlier.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Imperfect fleshly reality occupies the stage, the region where bones crack and wounds suppurate, schlumpy humans fall for each other, and jealousy roams murderously free.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Drink, drugs and sometimes tears.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Inheritance often tears families apart and much of that conflict is rooted in poor communication.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The front lid appears to be barely hanging on by a thread, with cuts and gashes throughout.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Heupel spreads out his receivers in an attempt to spread out the defense, then gashes them with the run.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scars. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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