tar 1 of 2

noun

ˈtär How to pronounce tar (audio)
Definition of tarnext
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

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 tar
Noun
Apply bug and tar remover to the area, following the directions on the package. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 May 2026 The main suspect is orangeburg pipes, made from wood pulp and tar and used extensively in sewer laterals and sewer mains during the 1940s thorough the 1970s and now considered obsolete. — Molly McCrea, CBS News, 22 May 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
  1. sailor
  2. soil
  3. mariner
  4. dirty
  5. salt
  6. smear
  7. navigator
  8. smudge
Noun
  • Each is 560 feet (171 meters) long and is operated by a crew of about 155 sailors.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026
  • The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine over the weekend of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, saying one sailor was killed and another injured.
    — Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 27 July 2026
Definition of sailor
Verb
  • People are reportedly soiling themselves at Noah Kahan‘s concerts.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026
  • This famed chemist had previously extolled the virtues of fertilizer as the answer to soil exhaustion, so his sudden reversal on the issue left a lasting impression on his contemporaries.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • Passed in 1920, the Jones Act requires that all shipments by water within the United States, including by ocean, be made on ships that are built in America, owned by American companies, and crewed by American mariners.
    — James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
  • Centcom said the operation was intended to further diminish Tehran’s ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Joseph Wilkins,Sean Conlon, CNBC, 20 July 2026
Definition of mariner
Verb
  • Satisfy your lasagna craving without dirtying up a pile of dishes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
  • The zipper shoe compartment keeps your shoes from dirtying up your clothing, and the massive interior can hold many outfits for your weekend getaway.
    — Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of dirty
Noun
  • Products like Pulparindo and Pelón Pelo Rico were combining tamarind, sugar, salt and chili decades before anyone used the word swangy.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • There are plenty of pork cracklings scattered throughout the mofongo, but each little prized pop of crunch and salt feels like a reward.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of salt
Verb
  • In her view, the way to calm things down is for Clark to denounce the very fans defending her while players drive forearms into her throat and television analysts smear her character.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
  • Offshore dollar savings and onshore settlement demand are diverging, and the supply chart smears the two together.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of smear
Noun
  • Many oncology practices have resources like nurse navigators, social workers, and chaplains available for patients.
    — Nicole Pajer, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
  • Your senior hires need a circle that includes a sponsor from senior leadership, a peer who can help explain unwritten norms, an operational navigator to remove administrative obstacles.
    — Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of navigator
Verb
  • Finish with a tubing mascara, which is less likely to run or smudge throughout the day.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 27 July 2026
  • The color was also gently smudged below her lower lashes, winging ever so faintly upward at the outer corner.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 20 July 2026
Definition of smudge

Browse Nearby Words

taps
tar
taradiddle
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Cite this Entry

“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tar. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tar

Nglish: Translation of tar for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tar

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