character 1 of 2

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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
Though details about Fox's character remain unknown, his casting prompts a reunion between the actor and Shrinking co-creator and executive producer Bill Lawrence. Esther Kang, People.com, 15 May 2025 Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel) will direct Ridley, whose character will come back to the big screen now as a Jedi master in a film set 15 years after the events of 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. Mekishana Pierre Published, EW.com, 15 May 2025 What was that years-long waiting period like for you while Duster was sidetracked and did your feelings about the project or character evolve at all? James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025 The show, replete with flower-power aesthetics and a raunchy sensibility, showed off Buzzi's knack for physical comedy above the neck, her characters often contorting their faces for the sake of caricature. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
Noun
  • The character is a powerful metaphor of oppressed women, challenging patriarchal norms, and has emerged as a symbol of female strength and resilience within the Indian horror genre.
    Sunil Sadarangani, Deadline, 20 May 2025
  • The endangered shorebird pair chose Montrose Beach as their summer nesting spot, going on to break records, fledge chicks and serve as symbols for a city as hopeful and hardscrabble as two birds, individually weighing less than a stick of butter, who picked an urban beach to save their species.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • But the settlers’ belief in the value of public goods and embrace of independent thinkers remain woven into the character of the city, which continues to attract artists, eccentrics and writers.
    Isabelle Taft, New York Times, 4 May 2025
  • Robert Redford delivers folksy wisdom as a local eccentric who once had his own dragon encounter, and even Karl Urban’s greedy logger is more of a nuisance than an outright villain.
    Josh Bell, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In the film, morality becomes ambiguous, and malleable even, as Coogler brilliantly illustrates duality in his characters and their development while incorporating themes of Hoodoo and Christianity.
    Nia Shumake, Essence, 15 May 2025
  • Global Constellation has unveiled a first exclusive still for the film, described as a harrowing and timely meditation on the collapse of morality in wartime, and the cost of survival when humanity itself is on the brink.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Myeong Eun-won (Kim Hye-in), a Hospital Playlist alum who has proven herself to care more about her reputation than her patients or her colleagues, has put herself in for the job.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 19 May 2025
  • But Wilken, who is a former law professor and thus likely appreciative of the academic calendar, has a reputation for being pragmatic and realistic.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • North York Moors National Park The low-growing vegetation characteristic of the Moors is gray-green, rust-brown, and even purple in places.
    Mike Nolan, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
  • From engaging with the rich tradition of equestrian fashion to exploring the nuanced world of Kentucky bourbon and even discovering the unique characteristics of Icelandic horses, Shelby County offers visitors an enriching few days in the Blue Grass State.
    Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • On the one side are Autistic self-advocates, many of whom reject the idea that Autism is a disease and instead embrace it as an identity.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • The issue of identity is not just a fad but becomes a fact of self-determination — in this context, Dahomey’s flaws are instructive for this moment when race and gender exploitation runs rampant and unchecked.
    Armond White, National Review, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Armed with an arsenal of reggaeton grooves and relatable lyrics, the singer born Carolina Giraldo Navarro conquered the charts and endeared herself to legions of fans with her sonic confessionals of love and self-empowerment.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Every swing tweak seemed to push him further from his former self.
    Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • The fungal disease does not spread from person to person, according to the CDC.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Before Johnson and Eakins exchanged vows, Houser passed their wedding rings along the front row and asked that each person hold the rings and pray or give their blessings over them before passing them down to the next person in what's known as ring warming.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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