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Definitions

tar

[tahr] / tɑr /
NOUN
cement
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adhesive mud plaster sand
STRONG
binder birdlime bond concrete epoxy glue grout gum gunk lime lute mortar mucilage paste putty sealant size solder
WEAK
rubber cement stickum
NOUN
gum
Synonyms
STRONGEST
paste wax
STRONG
adhesive amber cement exudate glue mucilage pitch plaster resin rosin
WEAK
cohesive substance
NOUN
jack
Synonyms
STRONG
bluejacket boater cadet diver jack-tar lascar marine mariner mate middy navigator pilot pirate salt seafarer seaman shipmate swab tarpaulin windjammer
WEAK
able-bodied sailor circumnavigator deck hand hearty midshipman/woman old salt sea dog sea person shellback swabber swabbie water dog yachter
NOUN
opium
Synonyms
STRONGEST
drug heroin morphine opiate poppy
STRONG
codeine dope hypnotic papaverine soporific
WEAK
brown stuff sleep-inducer
NOUN
pavement
Synonyms
STRONGEST
asphalt road sidewalk
STRONG
concrete flagstone
NOUN
sailor
Synonyms
STRONGEST
boater cadet diver marine pilot
STRONG
bluejacket jack lascar mariner mate middy navigator pirate salt seafarer shipmate swab tarpaulin windjammer
WEAK
able-bodied sailor circumnavigator deck hand hearty midshipman/woman old salt sea dog sea person shellback swabber swabbie water dog yachter
NOUN
seaman
Synonyms
STRONGEST
mariner
STRONG
beachcomber gob mate merman middy midshipman navigator old salt pilot sailor seafarer skipper
WEAK
cockswain jacky sea dog
VERB
defile
Synonyms
STRONGEST
besmirch debase degrade desecrate discolor dishonor sully vitiate
STRONG
abuse adulterate befoul contaminate deflower dirty disgrace hurt maculate molest pollute profane rape ravish seduce shame smear soil stain taint tarnish trash
WEAK
make foul mess up muck up scuzz up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
elevate honor praise upgrade
STRONG
assist clean cleanse cure disenchant esteem heal help please protect purify respect sterilize
WEAK
clease hallow sanctify
VERB
dirty
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blacken smear smudge sully
STRONG
begrime blotch blur coat contaminate corrupt debase defile discolor encrust foul grime muddy mung pollute smoke smutch spatter spoil spot stain sweat taint tarnish
WEAK
besoil make dusty make impure mess up
Antonyms
STRONG
clean cleanse clear flourish grow improve purify sterilize
VERB
discolor
Synonyms
STRONGEST
defile rust sully
STRONG
besmear besmirch blot mar mark smear soil stain streak tarnish tinge
Antonyms
STRONG
clean
WEAK
brighten color
VERB
impugn
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assail contravene
STRONG
attack blast break contradict cross deny dispute gainsay knock negate negative oppose question resist slam smear traduce trash traverse zap
WEAK
call into question cast doubt upon come down on cut to shreds disaffirm pin something on put down run down skin alive stick it to swipe at throw doubt on throw the book at thumb nose at zing
Antonyms
STRONG
agree aid allow approve assist compliment concede confirm corroborate go along help join praise stay support
WEAK
flatter
VERB
pave
Synonyms
STRONG
brick cobblestone flagstone gravel macadamize surface tile
WEAK
lay asphalt lay concrete
Antonyms
WEAK
dig up strip
VERB
profane
Synonyms
STRONGEST
debase pervert
STRONG
abuse befoul blaspheme contaminate curse cuss damn darn despoil flame hoodoo misuse mock pollute prostitute revile scorn swear trash violate vitiate voodoo
WEAK
be evil commit sacrilege commit sin do wrong mudsling put double whammy on talk dirty vice
Antonyms
STRONG
approve cherish clean commend exalt help praise protect purify
WEAK
cleanse
VERB
smear
Synonyms
STRONGEST
besmirch blur coat dab daub plaster smudge spatter spray sprinkle stain sully taint tarnish
STRONG
apply bedaub cover defile dirty discolor overlay overspread patch slop soil
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clean collect gather
STRONG
purify
WEAK
honor laud upgrade
VERB
soil
Synonyms
STRONGEST
besmirch contaminate debase degrade muddy pollute smear smudge sully taint tarnish
STRONG
bedraggle befoul begrime crumb defile dirty discolor disgrace foul grime maculate mess muck muss shame spatter spoil spot stain
WEAK
mess up muck up muss up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clean elevate honor laud purify upgrade
STRONG
respect sterilize
VERB
stain
Synonyms
STRONGEST
besmirch blacken contaminate daub discolor dye smear smudge sully tarnish tint
STRONG
animalize bastardize bestialize blemish blot brutalize color corrupt debase debauch defile demoralize deprave disgrace mark pervert soil spot tinge
WEAK
drag through the mud
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bleach clean whiten
STRONG
beautify cleanse honor improve moralize pale praise purify upgrade value
VERB
sully
Synonyms
STRONGEST
besmirch blacken corrupt debase defile discolor disgrace dishonor smear smudge taint tarnish
STRONG
blot contaminate debauch dirty mark spot
WEAK
drag through the mud make unclean
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clean enhance esteem honor improve laud praise purify upgrade
STRONG
cleanse sterilize
VERB
taint
Synonyms
STRONGEST
besmirch blight cloud corrupt damage discredit harm hurt infect muddy poison pollute smear spoil stain sully tarnish
STRONG
adulterate blacken blemish blot blur brand cook crumble cut debase decay decompose defile deprave discolor disgrace dishonor disintegrate doctor foul putrefy rot shame soil spike stigmatize trash turn water
WEAK
break down cast a slur crud up give a bad name water down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist benefit bless clean cleanse fix help honor improve mend purify
STRONG
beautify build clarify clear combine develop enhance esteem flourish grow praise put together respect unite upgrade
WEAK
right
VERB
tarnish
Synonyms
STRONGEST
damage defame dim dull embarrass harm hurt impair mar muddy pollute smear spoil stain sully taint
STRONG
befoul begrime blacken blemish blot contaminate darken defile discolor disgrace grime injure pale rust slander smudge soil spot vitiate
WEAK
lose luster lose shine
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist benefit clean fix heal help improve mend please
STRONG
beautify brighten cure honor lighten praise purify whiten
WEAK
polish uncorrupt

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.

He also sells Shilajit, which almost looks like tar.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

"I don't want to tar every business with the same brush by any means, but there is some profiteering."

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

Pike perch tartare from Lake Oulujärvi rests on malt bread with capers and dill oil and a whisper of pine tar.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

Although researchers cannot determine exactly who left it, they believe it may have been pressed into the tar during a repair by a crew member.

From Science Daily • Feb. 16, 2026

It couldn’t seem farther away from this hot tar roof and my shrink staring at my back, waiting for me to speak.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon

Vocabulary lists containing tar

Black and Gray

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3-letter words, List 2

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