char 1 of 2

noun

Definition of charnext
British
as in housekeeper
a female domestic servant a busy executive who leaves most of the cooking and cleaning to the char

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

char

2 of 2

verb

as in to scorch
to burn on the surface I'd like my hamburger charred, but not cooked through

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of char
Noun
Carnivores can order a mighty bistecca alla Fiorentina, Florence’s signature dish, char-grilled and carved at your table. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026 The larger pieces will hold up well on the grill and develop a nice char. — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
Rajas with Corn Tacos Rajas (or charred poblano peppers in a creamy sauce) is a traditional, vegetarian-friendly taco filling. — Jasmine Thompson, Midwest Living, 28 Aug. 2026 Big Sur has seen three massive fires in the past 18 years, each of which burned for more than a month and charred more than 100,000 acres. — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for char
Recent Examples of Synonyms for char
  1. housekeeper
  2. scorch
  3. maid
  4. singe
  5. sear
  6. light
Noun
  • Wash and Dry It Properly For down, feather, and polyester pillows, Audrey Goh, an executive housekeeper at Halekulani, says washing and thoroughly drying them can help restore loft, as this breaks down sweat and oil buildup.
    — Colleen Sullivan, Martha Stewart, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The housekeeper never notified management about them before tossing them in the resort’s dumpster.
    — David Goodhue August 21, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of housekeeper
Verb
  • During the 2016 Chimney Fire, which scorched more than 46,000 acres in the Santa Lucia Range, one of the family’s favorite manzanita trees burned black.
    — Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Dangerous heat that has scorched the Southwest for days is now spreading to the nation's midsection.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of scorch
Noun
  • The maid who let the Clue Gang into the room calls the demonstrably quite fallible Philly cops, who arrive in force.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Patricia Quinn, who starred as extraterrestrial maid Magenta, expressed her heartbreak over her costar’s death.
    — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of maid
Verb
  • Wills had been in a meeting and recalled a fireball flying past and singeing her bangs.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Five digital heat settings make temperature adjustment simple, and the ceramic plates are gentle enough to use on any hair type without singeing.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 18 June 2026
Definition of singe
Verb
  • Add chicken skin-side down and cook till golden and seared, 5 to 6 minutes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The 16-inch surface also offers plenty of space for maneuvering or using with a cast-iron skillet to sear and roast steak, chicken, fish, and vegetables.
    — Olivia Tarantino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sear
Verb
  • During the first hour, pine grove owners urged fire commanders to light a backfire a few hundred yards from Le Porge.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Down the hall, his girlfriend examines her birth chart, lights the palo santo and wonders whether Mercury is going to wreck her Tuesday.
    — Ryan Zickgraf, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of light

Browse Nearby Words

chapters
char
character
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Char.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/char. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on char

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about char

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All