marred

American

[mahrd] / mɑrd /

adjective

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

the simple past tense and past participle of mar.

Other Word Forms

unmarred

adjective

Etymology

Origin of marred

mar ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing marred

"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary

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Beowulf vocabulary

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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.

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

Price’s tenure has been marred by allegations of corruption that culminated in the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Venezi's appointment had been marred in controversy since it was announced last September.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

The company has begun metering computing supply to users during peak hours, but the rollout has been marred by customers who have complained that they are reaching the limit far too quickly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

He put his hands in his coat pockets and turned back eagerly to his scrutiny of the house, as though my presence marred the sacredness of the vigil.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023