as in spells
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power
originally, an abracadabra was a cryptogram of the word "abracadabra" that was repeated in diminishing form until it disappeared entirely—supposedly just like the targeted evil or misfortune
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abracadabras
spells
Noun
-
After his loan spells at Dordrecht and Den Haag, Summerville’s ambition was to play for his boyhood club, but an altercation prevented him from doing so, as ex-team-mate Robin Polly recalls.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026 -
Spring bulbs start to produce roots as soon as they're planted in the soil in fall, and some of their leafy shoots may appear above ground during warm spells in winter.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Feb. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Abracadabras.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abracadabras. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
