1
as in spell
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power
the hope that there was some bewitchment that would turn their jerky son-in-law into a prince
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in witchcraft
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means
while stuck in traffic, I could have used a bit of bewitchment to clear the road of other drivers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bewitchment
Her work, then, is the work of resuscitation via bewitchment.
—
Ocean Vuong, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
But if there is some kind of bewitchment going on in these encounters, Evelyn is entirely immune.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2025
Mercury well aspected on the 6th finds you in accord with others and Venus in Pisces accents playfulness on the 8th and romantic bewitchment on the 15th.
—Katharine Merlin, Town & Country, 1 Feb. 2023
One depends on a set of abstract rules; the other on a sequence of mutual bewitchments.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2019
Here, where both land and life are flat, the privations of rural teenage existence yield wild and elemental bewitchments.
—New York Times, 1 June 2017
The ergot fungus grows on cereals such as rye and produces several neurological symptoms that were historically attributed to bewitchment for many centuries.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Dec. 2015
Ocean Vuong, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
But if there is some kind of bewitchment going on in these encounters, Evelyn is entirely immune.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2025
Mercury well aspected on the 6th finds you in accord with others and Venus in Pisces accents playfulness on the 8th and romantic bewitchment on the 15th.
—Katharine Merlin, Town & Country, 1 Feb. 2023
One depends on a set of abstract rules; the other on a sequence of mutual bewitchments.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2019
Here, where both land and life are flat, the privations of rural teenage existence yield wild and elemental bewitchments.
—New York Times, 1 June 2017
The ergot fungus grows on cereals such as rye and produces several neurological symptoms that were historically attributed to bewitchment for many centuries.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Dec. 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bewitchment
Noun
-
At Barclays Center, Florence + the Machine gather participants to complete the spell-casting circle of their mystic and witchy art-pop (April 21-22, 24).—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
-
My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.—
Daniel Smith,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This iteration was notably surreal, what with the goopy-faced woman, cartoonish DIY bomb, and witchcraft unlocking true love’s kiss.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The movie follows Pastor Hélder, who, as his faith wanes, turns to witchcraft and sacrifice to reclaim it.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For Ukraine, the war has been a curse – a curse to survive and adapt long enough to spare Europe’s borders from Russia’s forces and absolve its allies from springing into greater action.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Indeed, various curses and slurs could be heard shouted from the audience at London's Royal Festival Hall, even during some segments broadcast to audiences in England and abroad.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The figure of an older woman working alone in a forest hovel inevitably brings some kind of sorcery to mind, but Hjorth’s earlier novels haven’t made too much of the suggestion.—
Elaine Blair,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The socks demonstrated borderline sorcery in their moisture-wicking ability (thanks to their three-layer construction) and are never cold, despite their outward thinness (Falke’s Polypropylene blend works wonders here).—
Jonathan Thompson,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Necromancy and woodland magic intertwine in Jenn Lyons’ (The Ruin of Kings) new standalone fantasy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
-
But chefs are just one half of the magic.—
Nora Heston Tarte,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bewitchment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bewitchment. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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