magus

noun

ˈmā-gəs How to pronounce magus (audio)
Definition of magusnext
as in sorcerer
a person skilled in using supernatural forces attributed the storms to a clash of wills between the two most powerful magi in the land

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 magus For years Johnson, the disheveled political magus, was the golden boy of Britain's Conservative Party. — Sam Kiley, CNN, 30 June 2022 But other students are there for Wittgenstein the sage, the magus, the riddler—the man who left Russell bewildered by a turn to mysticism at the end of a book that was supposed to be about logic. — Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 9 May 2022 His face is framed by voluminous graying locks; his loose robes recall those of a medieval magus. — Edward Rothstein, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magus
  1. sorcerer
  2. mage
  3. magician
  4. wizard
Noun
  • The sequence featuring Circe, the sorcerer who turns Odysseus’s men into pigs, might be the most disturbing of them all, not so much for what’s shown as for what’s implied, as the men’s body-horror-like transformations occur in tight shots.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 July 2026
  • But that apprehension is directed toward monsters, goddesses, sorcerers, and nymphs.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026
Definition of sorcerer
Noun
  • This young adult fantasy follows a 16-year-old who discovers a magical attack and realizes this new world of demons and mages has a connection to her mother’s death.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Or this one, where the mage Nic Cage totes Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
Definition of mage
Noun
  • The bad blood just increases from there and gets exceedingly personal as each magician tries to outdo the other in an electrifying, gripping duel that tears apart both their lives.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • The magician is already a legend, but another World Cup title would put him on another level entirely.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of magician
Noun
  • One of the best psych-folk albums of 2026 was made by a beekeeper and a part-time wizard.
    — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026
  • He was nominated for both an Emmy and a second Golden Globe for playing the titular Arthurian wizard in the 1998 miniseries Merlin.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026
Definition of wizard

Browse Nearby Words

mags
magus
mahatma
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Magus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magus. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on magus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about magus

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 maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
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
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All