character 1 of 2

1
2
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

3
4
5
6
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

7
8

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
The way it was presented to me from the very beginning was a scene on film where my character, Samantha, was going through menopause [due to breast cancer treatment]. Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2025 Reeves delivers on all phases of his character arc, making a potentially dull and earnest character soar. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025 One of the best parts to it are the recollections from his Little Italy friends and relatives, many of whom served as inspiration for his sometimes unsavory characters. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025 Details on their characters are being kept under wraps. Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
Noun
  • The team discovered that oxygen can degrade riboflavin when exposed to light, which leads to self-discharge.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Seattle lends itself to delicious satire, with its touching self-belief of being unshakably progressive.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Click the Save or Save As icon (the diskette symbol) to store your changes.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Its leather jackets became a cultural symbol in the ’90s and 2000s — worn by legends like Biggie and Dipset — representing pride, toughness, and self-expression.
    Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • It was considered immoral to lie and the whole point of writing things down back then was to increase morality and improve society, so there really is no didactic history of forgery.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Still, the Catholic Legion of Decency and other morality groups would criticize the scene as indecent.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In 2022, revelations of some LDP lawmakers’ ties to the former Unification Church hurt the party’s reputation.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Its vibrant arts community, outdoor recreation, and vintage boutiques and shops add to its charming town reputation.
    Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Multiple board members cited the ability to make the time commitment and experience in K-12 education as desirable characteristics.
    Edward McKinnon, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2025
  • While Cab Franc’s aromas and flavors vary depending on where it is grown, winemakers and wine lovers alike are captivated by its combination of fruity and savory characteristics.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office will release the man’s identity after it is confirmed and his next of kin is notified.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Spike Lee’s School Daze dives deep into life at a historically Black college during Homecoming week, where fraternity and sorority members clash over politics, privilege, and identity.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Besides religion, what are other possible reasons a person might have executed a forgery?
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
  • For more than 40 years, the person responsible for the brutal rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl on Long Island has eluded capture.
    Lauren del Valle, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For Mimi Pond, the desire to do a book about the Mitford sisters – six larger-than-life British eccentrics (and one brother) who created a stir in both British and American culture – was obvious.
    Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
  • For decades, sovereign citizens largely flew under the radar in Australia as relatively harmless eccentrics with a special interest in conspiracy theories.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on character

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!