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

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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 system is designed to help the Navy detect, locate, and classify underwater mines remotely, allowing sailors to conduct mine countermeasure (MCM) operations from safer stand-off distances.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
He is venerated as a patron saint of sailors, mariners, travelers, and whales.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of sailor

Verb

The problem is best corrected through adjustments to soil pH, though applications of iron also help.

— Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
Emily Cassidy, research associate at climate solutions nonprofit Project Drawdown, said composting offers the dual benefits of reducing landfill methane emissions and, once the composting process is complete, returning nutrients to soil.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of soil

Noun

Altogether, at least 30 mariners have been killed or are missing in the recent surge of attacks, according to maritime tracking services and the governments of Romania and Bulgaria.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026
He is venerated as a patron saint of sailors, mariners, travelers, and whales.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of mariner

Verb

For months now, so much vitriol crept into our TVs, interrupting the Bears or your favorite college football team with a special message from a super PAC or a partisan looking to score points by smearing their opponents.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
With a major election less than a week away, candidates and their consultants are pounding Floridians with a barrage of words — some intended to cast themselves in a flattering light, some intended to smear and degrade their opponents.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of smear

Noun

Master navigator Nainoa Thompson, CEO of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, was given the Halekulani Legacy Award.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026
In 1967, as the Cold War still dominated the country’s collective consciousness, Gene Roddenberry added a young Russian navigator to the bridge of the USS Enterprise.

— Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of navigator

Browse Nearby Words

taps

tar

taradiddle

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tar. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of tar

noun

verb

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