marred
Americanadjective
-
damaged or spoiled to a certain extent; made less perfect, attractive, useful, etc..
We can all get preoccupied with the marred aspects of our character.
-
disfigured or defaced, as by scratches, nicks, scars, or discoloration.
We love the marred table, actually, because it helps us remember the work, dirt, mess, and grit of life.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of marred
Explanation
If something is marred, it’s damaged due to a flaw. If the big football game on Sunday ends with a fight among fans of the opposing teams, commentators will say that the game was marred by violence. The word marred can be traced back to the Old English word merran, meaning “to waste or spoil.” Marred often carries with it the sense of spoiling perfection. It can be a flaw that makes something outstanding less than perfect, such as a movie star’s face marred by a scar or a career marred by controversy.
Vocabulary lists containing marred
"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Beowulf vocabulary
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50 Great Words from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“We had a table and chairs that would seat 12 people and came from Peter’s grandparents. The table was marred on top and the consignment people wouldn’t take it,” she said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
The second-year forward is trying to take advantage of his first true NBA preseason after knee injuries marred his rookie season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Mr. Fain won election in 2023 by fewer than 500 votes on a promise of reform, but his tenure has been marred by allegations of misconduct and financial mismanagement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
A landslide struck a car park on Japan's Mount Fuji, with the final day of the volcano's summer climbing season on Thursday marred by downpours and dense mist.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
Painted across the front of the chipped, marred shield was an intricate red dragon.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
