character 1 of 2

noun

ˈker-ik-tər How to pronounce character (audio)
Definition of characternext
1
as in self
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others the basic character of the work requires that an employee be able to work quietly and independently

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2
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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3
as in morality
conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong we need more people of sound character in public office

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in reputation
overall quality as seen or judged by people in general the general character of the business appears to be good

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5
as in characteristic
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind one of the distinguishing characters of mammals

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6
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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7
as in person
a member of the human race you wouldn't believe what kind of characters hang around the bus station

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits the junk dealer is certainly a character, but he's as honest as they come

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Elliott and Ellis’ characters are their addictions. —Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025 There’s imperfections there that create the balance, gives it character. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Nov. 2025 Starbucks is offering a Hello Kitty plushie, ceramic mug, travel cups and gift cards that all feature the popular Sanrio character with her bright red bow as part of their 2025 Holiday merchandise collection. —Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 6 Nov. 2025 Amanda Seyfried stars as the titular character, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
  1. self
  2. symbol
  3. morality
  4. reputation
  5. characteristic
  6. identity
  7. person
  8. eccentric
Noun
  • Unless the category could be brought under control, the excess threatened to self-propagate.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Recently, Weng has co-authored two studies that help ensure smooth motion and self-balance in robots.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of self
Noun
  • The move all but guaranteed more travel chaos heading into the weekend, a potent symbol of the shutdown’s cascading effects.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Others wore keffiyehs, a symbol of Palestinian resistance, nodding to an issue that inspired many of Mamdani’s supporters and was in turn weaponized by his critics.
    — Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of symbol
Noun
  • However, by the time of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which allowed the Taliban to return to power, the perception of the morality and efficacy of that long war had dwindled in the international community.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
  • To be a genre television spy requires a particular sense of morality and truth, coupled with a self-preservation instinct that means never letting your guard down.
    — Lily Osler, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
Definition of morality
Noun
  • Zwicky, which scans the night sky with a wide-field camera, has a reputation of enabling astronomers to discover transients or fleeting cosmic phenomena, such as quickly flaring supernovae.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Each partnership underscores the home’s growing reputation as a hub for connection, celebration, and cultural impact.
    — Essence, Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of reputation
Noun
  • Published in Aerospace Science and Technology, the study describes that the Accurate prediction of aerodynamic drag characteristics across a wide range of wing-body configurations is crucial in the early design stages of transonic commercial transport aircraft.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Customers see a different look, feel, color, drape and other characteristics of an apparel product.
    — Raj Dhiman, Sourcing Journal, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • He was known to the university only as Justin Phillips and none of the school’s records indicated a prior identity, according to the statement.
    — Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Each image will be accompanied by personal stories exploring themes of identity and resilience.
    — Sophie Williams, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of identity
Noun
  • For every additional person $109 would be added.
    — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025
  • As a childless person who doesn’t teach I’ve been happily unaware that, due to standardized testing requirements that favor close reads of excerpts over whole books, there’s an entire generation of students who have very little contextual framework for the literature they’re being taught in school.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of person
Noun
  • Appealing to consumers searching for a piece of history, the store has gained a following of visitors hunting for unique souvenirs, designers on inspiration trips and local eccentrics.
    — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
  • For Mimi Pond, the desire to do a book about the Mitford sisters – six larger-than-life British eccentrics (and one brother) who created a stir in both British and American culture – was obvious.
    — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of eccentric

Phrases Containing character

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char
character
character assassination
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Cite this Entry

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on character

Nglish: Translation of character for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about character

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