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 public mourning has, however, been marred by the renewed hostilities with the US.
From BBC • Jul. 9, 2026
Amazon-owned Zoox and Tesla are expanding more cautiously, while Uber has abandoned the development of its own autonomous vehicles, which had been marred by a fatal accident in 2018.
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
If this World Cup has been marred by astronomical ticket prices, that hasn’t put a damper on the tournament in the Pacific Northwest.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026
The first round was marred by logistical problems and a vote count that took weeks to complete, deepening distrust in Peru's creaking institutions.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
The dignity of Beowulf’s bow was marred by the appearance of Shantaloo, who had emerged from the shadows and now rubbed against his leg in a ticklish fashion.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
