sears 1 of 2

verb

Definition of searsnext
present tense third-person singular of sear
1
as in chars
to burn on the surface lightly sear the steaks, but don't cook them all the way through

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in dries
to make dry the clear desert air is seared by the summer sun

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sears

2 of 2

noun

plural of sear
as in burns

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 sears
Verb
At Jimmy’s, the new supperclub in Lodi, chef Adam Darville sears a piece of Ora King salmon on the flat top, leaving the center rare. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Nikki Glaser quickly and delightfully sears the crowd. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sears
  1. chars
  2. dries
  3. burns
  4. scorches
  5. scars
  6. singes
  7. damages
  8. lights
Verb
  • At American Elm, Mangin moves his cut of ribeye around the grill and flips it so each side faces the heat and chars the outside, guaranteeing a more even cook inside.
    — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
Definition of chars
Verb
  • The fragrance opens with a burst of red currant and juicy lychee before settling into soft rose petals as the scent dries down.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Once the floor dries, there may be little indication that water had been there at all.
    — Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dries
Noun
  • The oldest is from November 1976, when a man was found dead with a gunshot wound and severe burns.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Nov. 2026
  • People with deeper skin tones, or anyone who develops dark spots after acne, burns or bug bites, should skip aggressive methods that can worsen pigmentation.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of burns
Verb
  • The city is bracing for triple digit temperatures this week as another heat wave scorches Central and Eastern Europe, driving fears that levels could drop even further.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026
  • France followed its hottest-ever day with yet more brutal temperatures as a deadly heat wave scorches much of western Europe.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 24 June 2026
Definition of scorches
Noun
  • Matt Romano, chief of response for Sector San Juan, showed reporters scars all over his forearms from rescuing people from a rocky shelf on Monito.
    — Pedro Portal, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The illness is often treated by an ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that creates scars in parts of the heart to help maintain a normal heart rhythm.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of scars
Verb
  • But the laser singes her brain.
    — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
  • At one point, Paul improvises a blowtorch and singes Carey’s face, leaving his peepers hairless.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Definition of singes
Noun
  • The club remained closed after the shooting, and the filing seeks $1 million in damages.
    — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • General assertions of lost profits, out-of-pocket expenses and reputational harm did not satisfy the requirement to plead special damages, Gayles wrote.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of damages
Verb
  • Rose lights three candles in front of the altar, then rises to her feet to read from her phone.
    — Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • If Mick hadn’t come cruising into that playground, lights off?
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of lights

Browse Nearby Words

searing
sears
sea(s)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sears. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All