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

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

mar 1 of 2

noun

Definition of mar next

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

How is the word mar distinct from other similar verbs?

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

The 2022 championship does not negate the fact that the last seasons of the Myers era were marred by over-reliance on aging stars to complement Stephen Curry, prizing fits in Steve Kerr’s motion, read-and-react system, and tepid, questionable and marginal moves at the trade deadline. —

Jannelle Moore, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026 Sociedad's Copa celebrations were marred by a 1-0 loss to visiting Getafe, which moved into sixth place with its seventh win in 10 matches. —

ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026 Her brief tenure was marred by personal and professional scandal. —

Brooke Migdon, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 Since then the project has been marred by delays. —

Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mar

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mar

Noun

The concerns are not about McCoy’s ACL, but rather a bone plug that was used to repair a cartilage defect, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
That defect involves payments that were not properly factored into final calculations during a system blackout that occurred while switching to the new Tyler platform, officials said.

— A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026

Definition of defect

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mar. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of mar

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on mar

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Beltane

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Other Words for Beautiful

The Words of the Week - May 1

Was 'nervous Nellie' a Real Person?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

The Longest Long Words List

9 Other Words for Beautiful

Games & Quizzes