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

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

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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

Examples 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
This will be the first season of the HBO series without Coolidge, whose character was killed off in the finale of Season 2. Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024 Luckily the owners at the time also wanted to preserve the home’s character and designed the addition to blend in with the original structure. Paola Singer, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
The focus shifts from character to character, from past to present. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024 Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner’s DC comic book characters the Dead Boy Detectives, a pair of supernatural investigators who appeared in The Sandman series, get their own spinoff live-action series, which debuts on Netflix on April 25. Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for character 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
Noun
  • After the astonishing season Botafogo have enjoyed, he is viewed by many in Brazil as a symbol of everything that can go right when an outside investor comes in.
    Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
  • The new theory posits that the monument’s stones, sourced from distant regions, served as symbols of political alliances, possibly after unrest.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Long before its golden sands and rocky coves became reality TV-famous, Laguna Beach was known as an enclave for artists, eccentrics, surfers, and bohemians.
    Christina Pérez, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2024
  • That someone was Gary Paxton, one of the true eccentrics in the early fly-by-night Hollywood rock ‘n’ roll industry.
    Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The rest of Damian McCarthy’s folky horror film is a Tales From the Crypt–style morality tale as Dani’s psychic twin sister (also Bracken, natch) tries to find justice with help from the aforementioned life-size doll.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
  • After the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman arrested by Iran's morality police for violating hijab rules in 2022, nationwide and global protests ensued, unsuccessfully pushing the government to make changes regarding women's rights in Iran.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The controversial aesthetic, which emerged in the years following WWII, is the perfect cinematic vehicle for Adrien Brody’s poignant immigrant drama For its often blocky and raw concrete forms, Brutalist architecture has a polarizing reputation.
    Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 20 Dec. 2024
  • With top ratings across multiple platforms, its products have garnered a reputation for reliability and efficiency.
    Kyle J. Russell, Detroit Free Press, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Nearly a decade ago, a journal called the Numismatic Chronicle published an article analyzing the rare coin’s characteristics—and noting some discrepancies in the alignment of its designs.
    Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
  • In a letter outlining examples of actors who would fit the characteristics, Carrey — along with Jack Nicholson, Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman — was mentioned.
    Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • As the identity of everyone is obvious and the timeline of events is precise, this does not dilute the film’s impact.
    Richard Kuipers, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Police, however, know the suspect's identity and have executed a search warrant on the person's residence; Barnes said the family is cooperating in the investigation.
    KC Baker, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Pep Guardiola’s side go into the game at the Etihad looking a shadow of their dominant selves, winners of the past four Premier League titles, but derby days are different, even if Amorim is playing down its significance.
    Andy Mitten, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Everyone inside the home self evacuated after the fire started, fire department Public Relation Officer Ryan Blake told USA TODAY.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The person dressed as Santa Claus was then pulled into the building through the 6th-floor window.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Eight-episode season, screening first four episodes in person and full season online.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near character

Cite this Entry

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

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