TAR Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

tar 1 of 2

noun

ˈtär

Definition of tar

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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tar

2 of 2

verb

as in to soil

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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 tar

Noun

In 2012 an angler pulled a brown bullhead out of a lake on the Vermont-Quebec border with what looked like tar smeared across its skin. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The plasma process also produced very little smoke or tar, reducing harmful secondary pollutants typically associated with biomass conversion and making the technology a cleaner way to produce renewable solid fuel. — New Atlas, 1 July 2026

Verb

It was tarred, feathered and run out of town on a Brightline rail. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026 House Bill 1095 is a good piece of legislation tarred by a bad amendment that loosens requirements for public notices. — The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tar

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tar

Noun

The military said Chinese coast guard personnel aboard a motorboat repeatedly struck the sailor on the head with a wooden baton, injuring him and damaging his smaller vessel.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
The ship is named for William Pinckney, a Navy Cross recipient who rescued a fellow sailor aboard USS Enterprise during the Battle of Santa Cruz in World War II.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of sailor

Verb

Well-loved and used items that are broken, damaged beyond repair, unsafe, or heavily stained or soiled should be thrown out.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026
Lamb checked out of the room the next day, and a housekeeper found three large trash bags filled with bloody towels and linens that were also soiled with human waste, according to the report.

— David Goodhue August 21, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of soil

Noun

Carnival Conquest altered course in the Caribbean this week to assist a mariner in distress, the cruise line said.

— Nathan Diller, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Spanish authorities have issued recommendations for mariners intended to reduce risks to both the animals and people aboard vessels.

— Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of mariner

Noun

Sea salt is generally less processed and can contain trace amounts of minerals such as potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium, according to Harvard Health.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Tariffs on cement, road salt and hospital pads were removed and replaced with duties on all-terrain vehicles, some cheeses and motorboats.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of salt

Verb

People have gone from smearing the compound on their faces to using injections, in hopes of achieving firmer, wrinkle-free skin and other anti-aging benefits.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
Aware of them now, the dog shakes loose the can—his forelock matted, his jowl smeared with beans—and shrinks into the trees with a whimper that makes something tighten in Molly’s own chest.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of smear

Noun

Reportedly, the artificial intelligence serves as both the observational eyes and the active navigator throughout the procedure by establishing a continuous feedback loop between real-time ultrasound image processing and physical surgical control.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
The shelter will be open only to Elk Grove residents or people with deep ties to the city, verified through a vetting process, who receive referrals from the city’s homeless services navigators or police officers.

— Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of navigator

Verb

Inglessis applies liner near the lash line—easily smudged for a day-to-night look—while Baker, a huge mascara advocate, considers a single coat (if that) all that’s necessary.

— Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 4 Sep. 2026
The Bobbi Brown side had faded less and hadn’t smudged as much beneath my lower lash line, which is usually the first area to start running.

— Beth Sobol, Flow Space, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of smudge

Browse Nearby Words

taps

tar

taradiddle

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Style

“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tar. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tar

noun

verb

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