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
  • India summoned the Iranian deputy ambassador over the killing of a sailor in the waterway, and yesterday, the UAE said Iranian missiles hit its tankers in Omani waters, killing one crew member.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • The festivities continued Monday as nearly 1,000 sailors and crew members from 16 different nations marched through Boston's Seaport, drawing crowds eager to celebrate maritime traditions and America's 250th anniversary.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of sailor
Verb
  • Sacramento argued in court that most of her items were soiled and therefore garbage.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
  • Salted pasta water can be detrimental to soil and plant health, and even unsalted water can promote the growth of unwanted fungi.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • The United Arab Emirates' state oil company, ADNOC, said two of its tankers were hit by projectiles while transiting the strait, killing one mariner and injuring several others.
    — Spencer Kimball,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 14 July 2026
  • My dad, a former merchant mariner and forever captain of the Wildflower, orchestrated the loading of the boat with military precision.
    — Lisa Liu Grady, Christian Science Monitor, 9 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
  • The ripe salt-sea smell, raw and delicious and foul, that rose up from the platform and haunted the marsh for miles around, was today tamped down by the freshwater air blowing down from the north.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
  • Prevent obesity and promote healthy diets and physical activity, including measures that improve the food environment, such as reducing excessive sugar and salt content in foods.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
Definition of salt
Verb
  • Excessive oil can clog the cloth’s fibers and smear grime across your stainless steel, creating unsightly streaks and residue.
    — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 15 July 2026
  • When the House Committee smeared me on TV and sent letters chastising Northwestern during the Biden administration, suddenly my Palestine solidarity speech became a fireable offense.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
Definition of smear
Noun
  • Next up is a 38% markdown on the Fitbit Versa 4 smartwatch, a personal health navigator that tracks your metrics.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 July 2026
  • Troutman said nonurgent calls redirected to the nurse navigators will result in cost savings for Arlington.
    — Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026
Definition of navigator
Verb
  • Fine lines show signs of smudging around the edges and start to blur together at ISO 3200, and pretty much disappear at ISO 6400.
    — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026
  • Loose waves and smudged eye makeup, sharpened with pink at the inner corners, kept the effect closer to one of her stage looks.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 July 2026
Definition of smudge

Browse Nearby Words

taps
tar
taradiddle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tar. Accessed 19 Jul. 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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