mar
verb (used with object)
to damage or spoil to a certain extent; render less perfect, attractive, useful, etc.; impair or spoil.
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mar
1 American
[mahr]
/ mɑr /
verb (used with object)
-
mars,
present (3rd person singular)
-
marred,
past participle, past
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marring
present participle
-
to damage or spoil to a certain extent; render less perfect, attractive, useful, etc.; impair or spoil.
That billboard mars the view. The holiday was marred by bad weather.
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to disfigure, deface, or scar.
The scratch marred the table.
mar.
2
American
abbreviation
-
maritime.
-
married.
Mar.
3
American
abbreviation
M.A.R.
4
American
abbreviation
mar
1
British
/ mɑː /
verb
noun
Mar
2
British
abbreviation
Usage
What does mar mean? To mar something is to damage, spoil, deface, disfigure, or scar it—either literally (such as by scratching or making a mark on an object) or figuratively (such as by spoiling a party by getting into an argument). Mar is used somewhat more formally than many of its synonyms. Whether used literally or figuratively, it always refers to spoiling something by making it worse or less perfect than it was. Its figurative sense is more often used in writing (especially journalism) than in everyday speech. Mar can also be used as a noun, meaning a blemish, but this is less common. Example: The senator’s campaign event was unfortunately marred by people who wanted to disrupt the event by interrupting her speech.
Synonym Usage
Mar, deface, disfigure, deform agree in applying to some form of injury. Mar is general, but usually refers to an external or surface injury, if it is a physical one: The tabletop was marred by dents and scratches. Deface refers to a surface injury that may be temporary or easily repaired: a tablecloth defaced by penciled notations. Disfigure applies to external injury of a more permanent and serious kind: A birthmark disfigured one side of his face. Deform suggests that something has been distorted or internally injured so severely as to change its normal form or qualities, or else that some fault has interfered with its proper development: deformed by an accident that had crippled him; to deform feet by binding them.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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marsimple
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marssimple
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have marredperfect
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has marredperfect
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am marringprogressive
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are marringprogressive
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is marringprogressive
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have been marringperfect progressive
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has been marringperfect progressive
Past
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marredsimple
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had marredperfect
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was marringprogressive
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were marringprogressive
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had been marringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of mar
First recorded before 900; Middle English merren, Old English merran “to hinder, waste”; cognate with Old Saxon merrian, Old High German merren “to hinder,” Old Norse merja “to bruise,” Gothic marzjan “to offend”
Explanation
A mar is a flaw, mark, or blemish, like a deep scratch on a wooden table. As a verb, to mar is to make such an imperfection — like the pen mark that mars your crisp, white shirt. We often think of things that mar as immediately noticeable, like scratches, scars, and blemishes, but sometimes mar describes other ways of ruining something. For example, an unexpected run-in with a difficult person can mar your relaxing day at the beach, just as an unpleasant memory can mar a peaceful state of mind. The thing to remember is, it only takes one scratch, one mean comment, or one negative experience to mar something that is otherwise fine.
Vocabulary lists containing mar
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"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act II
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"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act V
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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.
See Examples For:
On the other hand, he is heavily invested in the tournament's success – and may take special efforts to avoid the kind of diplomatic incidents that could mar proceedings.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
Presumably, Mayweather scheduled the event as a warmup for the Pacquiao rematch — the only fight of the three that could mar Mayweather’s 50-0 lifetime record.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2026
If they missed payments for three consecutive months, they were placed in forbearance so their loans wouldn’t become increasingly delinquent and mar their credit records.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
Gilded fixtures, trim and ornamentation — rumored to be from Home Depot — mar the walls.
From Salon ● Jan. 4, 2026
Could I bear to mar it with my presence?
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
VIII., is this singular entry:—"Robarde Holte of Stubley, hase mar. an ould woman, by whom he hase none issewe, and therefore he wolde not have her name entryed."
From Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 2 by John Roby
The forests come down nearly to the beach, which is covered with thickets of mangroves, avicennias, manchineel-trees, and that species of suriana which the natives call romero de la mar.*
From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1 by Thomasina Ross
Their most notable prediction came on April 21, 2024, in Del Mar. During a maintenance visit earlier that month, researchers had observed a tiny new crack in the clifftop that was about 0.1 inch wide.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
The chip maker had a meteoric rise earlier this year, surging 214% between Mar. 30 and May 11.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
The period covers most of the stock market’s resurgence off its Mar. 30 trough, as investors welcomed a ceasefire in the Iran war, renewed bets on AI trades, and welcomed an upbeat corporate earnings season.
From MarketWatch ● May 19, 2026
After the fuel tank strike on Mar. 16, Dubai—one of seven emirates and the UAE’s commercial hub—has sought to reassure passengers, declaring flights in and out of its airports to be safe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 22, 2026
She mumbled something about having to pee and walked back into El Mar. The waitstaff were all busy cleaning up and putting the tables back in order.
From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older
Ye knaw the kingis hwnting vill be schortly, and than sall be best tyme, as M.A.R. has asswred me, that my Lo. has resolved to interpryse that matter.
From James VI and the Gowrie Mystery by Andrew Lang
Indeid M.A.R. spak with me fowr or fywe dayis syn, and I hew promised his Lo. ane answar within ten dayis at farrest.
From James VI and the Gowrie Mystery by Andrew Lang
One woman's body was washed up on a beach in Sagunto, in the eastern region of Valencia, and another was swept away by floodwaters in Cabrera de Mar, near Barcelona.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
Beat Corona Del Mar twice in five days led by Sadie Olivares, who made 11 catches for 142 yards and five scores.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
“We were really floored,” said McDonald, 69, a retired Secret Service agent who lives in Del Mar, Calif. The family needed the money while all the children were still young, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
Kate Meier completed 50 passes for 591 yards and eight touchdowns in victories over Mater Dei and Corona del Mar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
Mar, Tiago and Esteban said with an accent.
From "Harbor Me" by Jacqueline Woodson
Appeared in the May 23, 2026, print edition as 'Spacex has Plans for mars, shares for humans What It Takes to Launch the Largest IPO Ever'.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
It really mars what is otherwise a striking finish.
From The Verge ● Jul. 14, 2022
And some moments of highest drama smack of the overkill that mars the film, as when the threat of Woolf’s devastating headaches is marked by pummeling darkness, yawning brasses and instrumental screams.
From New York Times ● Mar. 20, 2022
But while the action ultimately turns as murky as in any Avengers epic, the smug, depersonalized air that often mars those glorified cinematic frat parties is notably absent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2021
Occasionally, a twitch of his hand or arm mars what he is doing, but in a little while he is able to twist off a section of the dough and fashion it into a roll.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
This race has been marred by controversy over the appearance of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
Previous short-lived truces in the war -- such as to mark Orthodox Easter -- have seen drop-offs in aerial attacks but been marred by accusations of widespread violations by both sides.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
Simmons was quietly repairing a reputation marred by his succession of injuries and the performance anxiety and emotional burnout he has openly discussed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
“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
It all came down to what was so abundant around us but marred by salt.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Heavy, acrid smoke blanketed the eastern United States on Saturday, marring preparations for the weekend's highly awaited World Cup final to be held in an open stadium in New Jersey.
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
A cycle of ephemeral emperors, military mutinies and civil wars had begun, marring Rome’s third century.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
Sandisk’s stock is off fractionally on Tuesday, with the report hardly marring the first anniversary of the split.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 24, 2026
Recently, a new implant in her left vocal cord has fixed the squeaky whisper marring her speech for four years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2024
His voice was just a little harder now, a hint of sarcasm marring his polite tone.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
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