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

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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
Broil about 5 inches from heat source until jalapeños are charred on all sides, 12 to 14 minutes, turning occasionally. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026 Ormund, the snooty, temperamental head of House Hightower, is shown charred beyond recognition in the episode's final moments. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 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
  • While blistering heat continues to scorch much of the nation's southern tier, the Midwest and Northeast are enjoying a brief fall preview.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Rémi Lecoutre, deputy head gardener at the Claude Monet House and Gardens museum, gave France 24 a tour, which revealed the nasturtiums to be completely wiped out; many other flowers appeared scorched or dead.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 20 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
  • Sullivan was an Irish immigrant who had been working as a maid for the Bordens for more than two years.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 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
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Cite this Entry

“Char.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/char. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on char

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about char

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