as in sailor
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel
a book about the adventurous lives of tars, skippers, and pirates of the 18th century
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tar
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
This will remove dirt, tar, and insects as well as buff out small scratches.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025
Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
WikiLeaks is often tarred with a couple of brushes that are not fair or accurate.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tar
Noun
And a partial human fingerprint found in tar residue could provide a direct link to one of the ship’s crew.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
This will remove dirt, tar, and insects as well as buff out small scratches.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025
Verb
As Jimmy Page says, guitars were tarred by the brush of rock and roll.
—Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
WikiLeaks is often tarred with a couple of brushes that are not fair or accurate.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tar
Noun
-
But Pietrek shows that quite a bit of thought and quality control went into the blend—which was, after all, considered part of the sailors’ pay.—
Tony Sachs,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
All of the cockfighters, lottery participants, and sailors throwing scrimshaw dice had to work around the ethical code imposed by Quakers, Shakers, and Puritans who vehemently opposed these games of chance.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Washing sheets in hot water every time isn’t necessary for linens that are lightly soiled—think no sweaty nights or sickness.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Pews were left heavily soiled in black.—
Jason Carroll,
CNN Money,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Last week’s whale sightings by the Aquarium led the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to implement a voluntary slow speed zone called a Dynamic Management Area (DMA) for mariners to reduce their speed to 10 knots to protect the whales.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Wander the gear aisles where gadgets promise to turn anyone into a better mariner, chef, parent and human being.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The adventurous actress dirties up her frock and face to play the village pariah, who reeks of fish and would be no man’s idea of a suitable wife, except perhaps the one-eyed bum who sleeps in the town square.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
-
When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At the salt yard on Whittaker Avenue in North Philly, brine trucks and plows were sitting at the ready.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The lack of salt has forced some towns to scale back ice removal.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Their clothes are smeared with mud, symbolizing the earthy, devotional spirit of the journey.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Elliot has a bloody nose, a mouth smeared with lipstick and is wearing a frilly pink bra and pants.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The pilot is aided by a navigator and by a third person who holds an antenna mast.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The shelter will be open only to Elk Grove residents or those with deep ties to the city, verified through a vetting process, and who receive referrals from the city’s homeless services navigators or police officers.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cleaning dirt and smudges off window glass helps sunlight penetrate into your home and will boost the amount of light that’s available to your houseplants.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Amazon Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara A mascara that’s guaranteed not to smudge your undereye is the crowning glory of anyone’s makeup collection.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tar. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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