tar
noun
any of various dark-colored viscid products obtained by the destructive distillation of certain organic substances, as coal or wood.
tarring
-
present participleof tar.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
It attempted to justify his deportation by tarring him as a gang member, an accusation that was based on comically flimsy evidence and which the government never tried to escalate to proving in court.
From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2025
A producer of the 2014 TV show Benefits Street has said he regrets tarring the reputation of the road it focussed on.
From BBC ● Feb. 29, 2024
American law enforcement was more interested in tarring King with whatever they could dig up than in protecting him.
From New York Times ● May 8, 2023
His opponents tried to slow him down by tarring him as an out-of-touch tycoon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2022
He has a summer job, with the Works Department, filling in potholes in the roads, tarring over the cracks made by frost heave; he does have a faint tarry smell about him.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
