Definition of characternext
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as in symbol
a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader the pictorial characters of the ancient Egyptians had long been a mystery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in identity
the set of qualities that make a person different from other people she regards each of her children as having a distinctive character that should be valued for what it is

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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character

2 of 2

verb

as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group formerly charactered as "the dark ages," that period of history may not have been quite so benighted as once thought

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word character different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of character are attribute, property, and quality. While all these words mean "an intelligible feature by which a thing may be identified," character applies to a peculiar and distinctive quality of a thing or a class.

remarks of an unseemly character

When might attribute be a better fit than character?

The words attribute and character can be used in similar contexts, but attribute implies a quality ascribed to a thing or a being.

the attributes of a military hero

When can property be used instead of character?

The synonyms property and character are sometimes interchangeable, but property implies a characteristic that belongs to a thing's essential nature and may be used to describe a type or species.

the property of not conducting heat

In what contexts can quality take the place of character?

The meanings of quality and character largely overlap; however, quality is a general term applicable to any trait or characteristic whether individual or generic.

material with a silky quality

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 character
Noun
Maybe the character’s popularity even helped prime pop culture to fully appreciate a certain silent producer, a woman for whom breasts and brains were never mutually exclusive. Judy Berman, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 Netflix has also greenlit Jaq (working title), a series that will focus on BAFTA-winner Jasmine Jobson’s character. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 The backstory Owner Audrey Gelman—longtime friend of Lena Dunham and the inspiration behind HBO’s Girls character Marnie Michaels—was the cofounder of the women’s social club and co-working space The Wing. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026 Like her character, Gasteyer is not down for keeping secrets. Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
Noun
  • Sweet Humans is about believing in and elevating independent stories and voices, and building something together where everyone can be their authentic selves.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • My mother was never one for parting phrases, mainly because she was overwhelmed by a form of timidity that verged on self-erasure.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • As her anger and resistance grow, her body begins to transform into porcelain, becoming a powerful symbol of her silent rebellion and her fight to reclaim her own identity.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But Pete took the idea one step further, taking the organization’s iconic symbol — the star — and suffusing it with a deeper meaning.
    Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The postliberals want to enforce a Catholic conception of the common good and morality.
    Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Brothers Karamazov unfurls drama, philosophy, and morality against a vision of 19th-century Russia.
    Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • It is anticipated that the new complex would include a wide range of amenities, further solidifying Palmares' reputation as a destination where golf is just the beginning.
    Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Angst over Meta’s public reputation likely played a role in the decision to settle so early, experts said.
    Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • According to the team, each of those characteristics plays out similarly in real fish of various sizes across different ecological niches.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
  • And most simulants of lunar material are faithful in their geological characteristics, to simulate the lunar surface and its dust, rather than the precise chemistry within.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Șerban draws on her own experience to explore identity and belonging from a Roma woman’s perspective.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The identities of the four people on board have not been released, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Its movements and squeaks change in response to the person interacting with it, giving caregivers another way to reduce distress and encourage engagement.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Dramatic video showed the rescue of one such person as authorities from Nepal worked to drag the man out of the mud deluge.
    Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Make sure to practice a full range of motion with these and emphasize the eccentric (the way down) part of the movement for maximal time under tension and muscle-building stimulus.
    Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 19 Aug. 2026
  • No documentarian has a better eye for intriguing oddballs than Errol Morris, who built his feature film career on drawing them out in conversation, from pet-cemetery owners in Gates of Heaven to small-town eccentrics in Vernon, Florida.
    Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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