mar

/mɑː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [mˈɑr] /mɑːr/ (ame, ipa) · [mˈɑr] /ˈmär/ (ame, mw)

mar — verb

  • marpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • marshe / she / it
  • marredpast simple
  • marring-ing form

1. to damage or spoil something so that it is not as good, pleasant, or perfect as

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to damage or spoil something so that it is not as good, pleasant, or perfect as it should be — for example, a scratch on a new table or a harsh word that ruins a happy moment.

例句

The view of the ocean was marred by a row of new apartment buildings.

passive: be marred by [something]

Chidi's careless remark about his cousin's failed business marred the usually happy reunion dinner.

mar + [abstract quality]

同義詞
  • spoil

    more common and less formal; 'spoil' is everyday English while 'mar' is literary

  • damage

    broader meaning; 'damage' can be minor or severe, whereas 'mar' implies a visible reduction in quality or beauty

  • blemish

    more specific to appearance; 'blemish' focuses on surface defects

反義詞
  • enhance

    opposite direction — to improve or add to the quality or beauty of something

  • perfect

    to make something flawless; opposite of introducing a mar

文法句型

be marred by [noun phrase]

mar + [something positive]

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive voice (be marred by). Unlike 'ruin', mar usually describes partial damage that reduces quality rather than total destruction.

常見錯誤

❌The storm marred the entire village.
✅The storm destroyed the entire village.
💡'Mar' is too mild for total destruction; use 'destroy' or 'devastate' instead.
❌I marred my phone when I dropped it.
✅I damaged my phone when I dropped it.
💡'Mar' is formal and less common in everyday speech about personal objects.

mar — noun