as in amulet
something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil
he wore a small phylactery on a cord around his neck
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Recent Examples of phylactery
Under the chin was the amulet, also known as a phylactery, likely worn around the person's neck.
—
Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
Known as a phylactery, this type of amulet served as a kind of container to hold objects believed to be imbued with magical properties that were intended to protect the wearer.
—Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Popular images of Jewish men worshiping at the wall in prayer shawls and phylacteries show only a small stretch of the ancient retaining wall for the Temple Mount.
—David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2017
Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
Known as a phylactery, this type of amulet served as a kind of container to hold objects believed to be imbued with magical properties that were intended to protect the wearer.
—Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Popular images of Jewish men worshiping at the wall in prayer shawls and phylacteries show only a small stretch of the ancient retaining wall for the Temple Mount.
—David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phylactery
Noun
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This spring, an Israeli child found an ancient amulet at Tel Azeka, a hill in the Judaean Foothills referenced in the Book of Samuel.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Russian forces had also taken old icons and books, a Polovtsian saber, Scythian bronze items, buckles, amulets, temple rings, axes and arrowheads from the times of Kievan Rus, the first East Slavic state, established between the 9th and 13th centuries.—
Yegor Mostovshikov,
The Dial,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The finale closes on the skull, mysteriously crackling with energy, a talisman of promise and threat at once.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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Inside the Pandora party, there was plenty to experience, with activities themed to the various talisman coins.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Phylactery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phylactery. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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