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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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

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
The relatively unknown Ortega emerges as the show’s secret weapon, conjuring a breezy chemistry with her co-stars even as her chaos-prone character needlessly complicates all her relationships. —Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026 The enthusiasm for its score, story and characters made is what brought it to Broadway. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026 And this character acts like a real a**hole in the story. —Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 As the name suggests, character coaching focuses on developing a character’s inner life. —Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 9 Apr. 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
  • San Diego startup Neomorph on Monday announced a new $100 million investment for its molecular glue that tricks cancer cells into self-destructing.
    — Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
  • As Nick and Jacki’s conversations deepen, the line between witness and participant blurs, forcing both to confront what justice demands, what belief requires, and the perilous distance between true freedom and the illusion of self determination.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of self
Noun
  • But during the unfolding of the historical lunar flyby mission — the first human moon visit in nearly 54 years — Rise also became a symbol far beyond serving as a demonstration of when Integrity left Earth's gravity.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Giving appreciation to your own smile when the symbol of loneliness looks like a dirty mirror.
    — Yesika Salgado, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of symbol
Noun
  • Freed from all the entanglements that come with having to launch a ground invasion, air war can overfly not just morality and law but arguments, rationales, the calibration of risks to rewards and of suffering to satisfaction.
    — Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 9 Apr. 2026
  • This split makes reason, self-knowledge and morality possible.
    — Ross Channing Reed, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
Definition of morality
Noun
  • The odd situation threatens to hurt Microsoft's reputation while sparking debate over whether tech giants have too much control over their software ecosystems.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
  • SpaceX, privately funded and operated by the real world’s closest equivalent of Marvel’s Tony Stark, has developed a reputation for putting on a stunning show with every launch.
    — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of reputation
Noun
  • The unusual characteristics of dark matter have prompted scientists to search beyond the standard model of particle physics for particles that could comprise it.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The players are policing themselves in the locker room, a critical characteristic for building winning teams.
    — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • Chernyshov is a big, strong (6-foot-3, about 200 pounds) winger and modern power-forward type where driving is a part of his identity, but not to a bullish fault as his only focus, and his skill/finesse might take on greater emphasis.
    — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Fuller, meanwhile, has embraced the endorsement — and the identity.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of identity
Noun
  • Jogging might feel easy to one person and exhausting to another.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Police said that at least one of the three shootings was a random attack on a homeless person sleeping in front of a Kroger store at Cherokee Plaza along Peachtree Road in Brookhaven.
    — Kat Greene, AJC.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of person
Noun
  • In 2015, Robert Durst, a wealthy eccentric linked to two killings and his wife’s disappearance, was arrested by the FBI in New Orleans on a murder warrant a day before HBO aired the final episode of a serial documentary about his life.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
  • 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
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 15 Apr. 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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