marred
Americanadjective
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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.
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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.
The shipping and delivery confusion surrounding the T1 mobile phone is just one part of the story for a device marred in controversy.
From Salon • May 21, 2026
Spirit Airlines is officially shutting down after a 34-run of offering cheap, no-frills flights — one that was ultimately marred by a major strategic blunder.
From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026
Venezi's appointment had been marred in controversy since it was announced last September.
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026
Nestle had a string of setbacks in recent years, marred by weaker-than-expected results, management upheaval and an infant-formula recall.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
This was a truly thrilling scene, though some persons might have thought that the sudden tumbling down of a quantity of long red hair rather marred the effect of the villain’s death.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions 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.
