to mar

Examples

• All

• The scratch on the car door will mar its resale value significantly.

• This limited vision mars political science in several ways.

  Academic text (1995)

• I think it mars the pages a bit.

  Blog text (1)

• Relationship cycles has been marred by your experience.

  DoctorRamani

• That's what mars our happiness.

  Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

• I'm not suggesting this little problem mars my enjoyment in any way at all;

  Blog text (1)

• The administration says that it will move ahead with a backup federal exchange in states that decline to participate, but it's not hard to imagine this becoming a slow-motion administrative train wreck that mars the program's launch.

  Blog text (21)

• Overall, Sticker Star is a good game that offers fun combat with light puzzle elements, but needless backtracking mars an otherwise fantastic outing.

  Blog text (22)

• Their argument during dinner did not mar the overall joy of the celebration.

• Rain may mar the beauty of the outdoor wedding if it does not stop soon.

Synonyms

D

to damage

vsto mar

885 1.4

To harm something so it becomes less useful, valuable, or healthy

is more about appearance or quality than general physical harm

P

to poison

vsto mar

97 4.4

To damage a relationship or group by spreading bad ideas

is often neutral damage or visible spoil, not necessarily corruptive

S

to spoil

vsto mar

80 2.8

To make something less good or enjoyable

focuses on appearance or general quality rather than utility or enjoyment

M

to mutilate

vsto mar

• NSFW

73 7.4

Damage something by cutting or removing parts so it looks ruined

can mean lighter damage or spoil that leaves the object recognizable

I

to impair

vsto mar

61 5.1

To make something worse or less able to work

tends to mean spoil appearance or external quality more than function

T

to tarnish

vsto mar

60 4.9

To make something like metal or a reputation lose its shine

can mean damage to appearance or quality more broadly, not only brightness

D

to disfigure

vsto mar

31 5.8

Spoil the appearance of a person or thing by damaging it

can refer to less severe spoil or damage not causing deformity

D

to deface

vsto mar

29 5.8

Damage the surface of something by writing, scratching, or painting it

also covers damage to quality, not only surface appearance

S

to sully

vsto mar

13 7.6

Make someone's good name seem bad

often refers to physical or visible damage rather than only reputation

B

to bastardize

vsto mar

• Informal

4 8.2

To make something lower quality by changing it from its original form

more often means simple damage or spoil rather than adulteration

D

to do a job on

vsto mar

• UK

3 7.7

Damage or spoil something badly

can be used for milder spoil or small damage not total ruin

B

to blemish

vsto mar

3 5.5

To make something look less perfect or attractive

can mean broader damage or spoil beyond a small imperfection

V

to vitiate

vsto mar

• Formal

2 9.9

Make a contract or decision not valid by law

usually points to visible or quality damage rather than loss of validity

U

to uglify

vsto mar

8.5

Make something look bad and spoil its appearance

may mean damage that harms quality without making it visually unattractive

M

to maculate

vsto mar

• Formal

9.9

To make something dirty or spoil its reputation

can cover simple physical spoil or broader quality damage too

A

to abrase

vsto mar

• Archaic

9.9

Wear away the surface of something by rubbing or scraping

is broader, including other ways to spoil appearance or quality

Antonyms

I

to improve

∞ 1.0

To make something better

P

to preserve

496 3.4

To keep people and things safe from harm or change

R

repair

352 2.3

Work done to fix something that is broken

Compounds

V

Viña del Mar

5.8

A seaside city in central Chile known for its beaches and gardens

How Damaged

to destroy

∞ 1.0

to ruin

∞ 2.0

to mar

2 5.3

to damage

885 1.4

to scratch

161 1.1

Surface Forms

Etymology