mar 1 of 2

mar

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word mar distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of mar are damage, harm, hurt, impair, and injure. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

the text is marred by many typos

When is it sensible to use damage instead of mar?

While in some cases nearly identical to mar, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When might harm be a better fit than mar?

The words harm and mar can be used in similar contexts, but harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When is hurt a more appropriate choice than mar?

In some situations, the words hurt and mar are roughly equivalent. However, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When can impair be used instead of mar?

The words impair and mar are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

In what contexts can injure take the place of mar?

The meanings of injure and mar largely overlap; however, injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

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 mar
Verb
Advertisement Advertisement The winner of the primary will go up against current Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent after scandal and an indictment have marred his time in office. Time, 23 June 2025 Lungu died from an undisclosed illness at a hospital in South Africa early this month and the process to repatriate his body for burial in Zambia has been marred by a bitter feud between his family and the current Zambian government. Jacob Zimba, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025 The protests were at times marred by looting and clashes with the police. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 18 June 2025 They were marred by injuries throughout the season, having entered the season with somewhat high expectations. Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mar
Noun
  • This doesn’t help since defects cluster and entire batches quietly go rogue while the QA team nods at those green dashboards.
    Raghu Para, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • As more cars rely on advanced software, addressing defects quickly is essential to protect drivers, passengers and pedestrians, and to maintain trust in automotive safety standards.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • With him alive, she was tainted by association with his poor behavior.
    Ann Foster, JSTOR Daily, 9 July 2025
  • Combs’ reputation has been thoroughly tainted by the lurid details of the trial and strong condemnations from his many accusers.
    August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • While Trump suffered a wound when one bullet grazed his ear, others were injured and volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore died as a result of the shooting.
    Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 13 July 2025
  • In recent weeks, WWE has teased some huge feuds for Gunther, including one with Seth Rollins, who was injured on Saturday, that seems unlikely given Rollins’ other rivalries and the fact that both stars are heels.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • Then the complications start — Jess can’t ignore the scars of her past relationship, and Felix’s struggles with addiction and commitment come back to haunt him.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 8 July 2025
  • With the scars of the possible anti-LGBTQ+ attack still visible, here was The Sugar Maple, not deterred.
    Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.
    Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 13 Feb. 2023
  • Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.
    Monica Mark, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • Anything that damages the trust between the vendor, Microsoft, and the user is as much a threat as the hackers themselves, in my never humble opinion.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • White blotches — the frostbitten tissue — swelled on the roof of his mouth, uvula and throat.
    Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 2 July 2025
  • Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Police found items stained by blood in garbage bags in the living room closet.
    Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 9 July 2025
  • Achiote stains the fish, which has also absorbed the aromatics of lemongrass, ginger and sharply citrusy calamansi juice.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mar. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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