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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as in to soil
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tar
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
This happens when creosote—a tar-like residue that clings to the inside of the chimney—ignites.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
WikiLeaks is often tarred with a couple of brushes that are not fair or accurate.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tar
Noun
Sharing a series of photos documenting the painstaking process, the homeowner revealed layers of paint, tar, and other substances that had built up over the years.
—Verb
As Jimmy Page says, guitars were tarred by the brush of rock and roll.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for tar
Noun
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The town is named for the Greek mythological creature Scylla, a sea monster with multiple heads that was fabled to terrorize sailors (most notably, the hero Odysseus) who dared to travel the water between Italy and Sicily.—
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The name Siren's Curse comes from the mythical sirens who reside in Lake Erie and lure sailors with their singing.—
Verb
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Detergent needs will also depend on a variety of other factors including how soiled your dishes are, the detergent formula (powder, liquid, or pod), and other machine specifications.—
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Traditionally, farmers have added these living biofertilizers to soil, where acidity – plus the rival microbes who live there – pose a great threat, and thus for every amount of biofertilizers dumped into soil, only a portion gets to the roots.—
Noun
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Wander the gear aisles where gadgets promise to turn anyone into a better mariner, chef, parent and human being.—
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The Coast Guard has put out a signal to other mariners for the survivors in distress.—
Verb
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When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.—
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Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag.—
Noun
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For persistent stains on the bottom of the oven, mix a 1-pound box of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 2 tablespoons of water, adding more water ½ tablespoon at a time if needed.—
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Some pickles have probiotics that benefit gut health, but the salt content is high.—
Verb
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Blood was smeared on the hood, roof and rear of the sedan.—
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Hadid appears beat up with a gash on her arm, dirt on her face, and smeared black eye makeup.—
Noun
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On Livonia Avenue, community navigator Troy Johnson climbs behind the wheel of the van, which functions as a mobile office for Brooklyn Justice Initiatives staff.—
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As Powell — one of Capitol Hill’s most adroit navigators — made his rounds, Republicans on both sides of the Capitol panned the investigation.—
Verb
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In 2026, makeup artists predict a makeup rebellion, with perfectly imperfect glitter shadow smudged across lids, colorful mascara coating lashes, and ultra-pigmented lipsticks that stand out even further against a backdrop of velvety, natural-looking skin.—
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The workers’ uniforms are smudged with stains earned underneath a car, wrench in hand.—
Cite this Entry
“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tar. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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