MAR Synonyms: 180 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

mar 1 of 2

noun

Definition of mar

as in defect

something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing the Johnsons complained to the movers about broken dishes and mars on the furniture

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mar

2 of 2

verb

ˈmär

as in to taint

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable mar a politician's reputation with scurrilous rumors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to injure

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of the once glossy surface is now marred by numerous small pits and abrasions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Starship, which underpins Musk’s longer-term goals in space, has faced a rocky development path marred by explosive setbacks, malfunctions and delays — at a cost of $15 billion and running. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Since storming onto the scene midway through last season to unanimously win the American League Rookie of the Year, Kurtz has been one of the best hitters in the league and one of few consistent presences in an A’s lineup marred by injuries. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026 After topping June’s mayoral primary, Karen Bass’ summer has been marred by staff departures, fallout from the fire in Boyle Heights and a rise in citywide homelessness. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026 That’s particularly important this year as the wildfire has curbed tourism following a tough winter marred by drought, Ducharme said. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mar

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mar

Noun

Because automation was tied to worker empowerment rather than displacement, factory workers actively partnered with engineers to optimize the robots, resulting in defect rates lower than those of their American competitors.

— Jason Dressel, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
The company’s engineering team found that the defect was tied to a design weakness.

— Saleen Martin, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of defect

Verb

How can someone from far away seize control of a water system and possibly shut off the flow or taint the water?

— William Akoto, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
The political violence that tainted the Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction era clashes with traditional definitions of terrorism, which typically targets a power structure that such violence seeks to upend.

— Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026

Definition of taint

Verb

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of using North Korean ballistic missiles in its attacks, as another night of bombardment killed at least nine civilians and injured dozens of others.

— CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Chamapuro added that one person in the community was injured, and called on authorities to send food and medicine.

— Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of injure

Verb

Hundreds of buildings — hotels, apartment blocks, mixed-use structures — collapsed or were damaged beyond repair.

— Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
If Chinese inventories become one of the last lines of defense against damaging global price spikes, Beijing may come to occupy a comparable position.

— Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of damage

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“Mar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mar. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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