character 1 of 2

Definition of characternext
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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character

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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

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
His character is what really stays with us. Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026 Interestingly, though, many female writers express alienation through close attention to characters’ disconnection from their physical self. Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026 The organization of over 5,500 VFX professionals also gives out awards for excellent work in environments, character design, and effect simulations in television, commercials, and other media projects. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026 And of course, fan-favorite characters will also appear—dressed in their F1 finest—at races throughout the year, with select race weekends featuring special Disney experiences and entertainment. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
Noun
  • Do your best to get some tidying up done — your future self will thank you.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Analyzing the task In the task, the humanoid robot picked up self-tapping nuts precisely from an automatic feeding device and placed them onto positioning fixtures.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And that, Chaccour says, set the stage for ivermectin to take center stage as a symbol of politicized medicine.
    Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 2 Mar. 2026
  • After the war, jackets began to be worn for reasons of style rather than utility, spurred on by a wave of films like 1953’s The Wild One, in which Marlon Brando turned the leather motorcycle jacket into the ultimate symbol of youthful rebellion.
    Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Iran's morality police arrested a 22-year-old woman, accusing her of failing to cover her hair.
    Scott Pelley, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Inspired by the sci-fi and fantasy stories that helped her escape from reality during those early years in the US, her writing often explores morality and relationships in hypothetical, fantastical worlds.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Double-check directions to protect your responsible reputation.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
  • The controversy around ‘mipymes’ Cuba’s private sector has a bad reputation in Miami, where many local politicians and activists have insisted that most businesses are really connected to the Cuban government or are owned by members of the elite in power.
    Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Those four projects shared key characteristics — and those characteristics help explain why White Stadium is a case study in procurement failure.
    Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
  • But the fractures that Turlier’s colleagues observed in mouse embryos display different characteristics.
    Clare Watson, Quanta Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Napa County coroner’s officials will release the man’s identity once family are notified.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Authorities have described the suspect as a male of average build and roughly 5 feet, 9 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall, but have not confirmed any personal identity details or motive.
    Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Age has a way of mellowing a person, sanding away their rough edges, leaving only their essence.
    Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
  • This is something the person looking to be verified knows to be true, but the ZKP method relies on trust.
    Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • On her trail are a Báthory relative who is vegetarian (Thomas Schubert), his psychotherapist (Lars Eidinger), two vampirologists, a police inspector and a gallery of eccentrics.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Catherine O’Hara portrayed ridiculous eccentrics with equal parts hilarity and humanity.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

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