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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Deadline broke the news of Miñoso’s departure, reporting that the actor is set to appear in a handful of episodes at the start of the upcoming season to wrap his character’s story arc. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 29 July 2026 The Planning Commission ultimately voted 5-3 to deny the project, due to lingering concerns about public safety, increased traffic and if the project fits with the character of the neighborhood. — Taylor O'Connor 29, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026 Renovations like the South Field Club and seating upgrades enhance the fan experience without erasing the stadium's character. — Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Ellis Tillman’s costumes help to convey the character’s personalities. — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 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
  • With Logout’s punk credentials and Margo XS’s keen ear for self-referential, post-hyperpop production, HARDBODY’s hero’s journey is sarcastically relatable, like getting roasted in the group chat for last night’s shenanigans.
    — Cameron Cook, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026
  • No ask is too demeaning, no self-sabotaging client too difficult.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 29 July 2026
Definition of self
Noun
  • The city’s income inequality has also widened, and for Jean-François Lejeune, a professor at the University of Miami School of Architecture, the new crop of luxury buildings has become a potent symbol of that growing disparity.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • The finding soon became a national symbol of the region’s ancient history, and is a regular fixture of local souvenir shops, postage stamps, and the Abruzzo coat of arms.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of symbol
Noun
  • Yes, these stories have monsters in them, heroic adventures, and black-and-white morality tales.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • But there’s a difference between narrating crime scenes at a remove and wrestling with the lingering morality of it all.
    — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
Definition of morality
Noun
  • And the host is surprisingly game to poke fun at his own prickly Hollywood reputation, lending the entire hour-long episode a kind of comedy synergy that elevates it above the usual collection of reference jokes.
    — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026
  • The Sky have struggled with a somewhat problematic reputation for more than a decade, dating to the messy exit of Sylvia Fowles in 2014.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Definition of reputation
Noun
  • Additionally, the breast cancer characteristics of some participants were unknown, which may have affected the data.
    — Versha Pleasant, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
  • The companies will assess the batteries’ performance, reliability, safety, and charging characteristics under everyday driving conditions.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • Their individual choices were often suppressed to the demands of communal honor and state policy, revealing how women’s bodies and identities became contested territory during and after the partition.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
  • For some coworkers, the ability to return to work sooner may in itself be therapeutic, offering structure, identity, purposeful distraction, and a community that knew them before the loss.
    — Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of identity
Noun
  • All involved persons are in their 20s, according to scanner audio, and alcohol may have been involved in the incident.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026
  • Daily newspapers keep scores of advance obituaries on file so reporters aren’t scrambling on deadline when an important person in the community dies.
    — Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of person
Noun
  • With its loose ends and digressions, Dream Me a Dream stays true to those idiosyncratic instincts while retaining enough of the welcoming glow of Dance of Love to make this an affecting farewell from an endearing eccentric.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026
  • The eccentric cuz is quick to try and help Bobby solve problems, which often gets him into trouble, but ultimately pushes him out of his shell.
    — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026
Definition of eccentric

Phrases Containing character

Browse Nearby Words

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 1 Aug. 2026.

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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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