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

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
Not really, but Hathaway brings forth a louder, tenacious side to the character that isn’t quite picked up in literary translations of the poem. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 22 July 2026 The clip finds Rosalind Eleazar, who stars as the titular character, fighting to reignite her career years after her first breakthrough. — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026 Aside from their individual abilities to capture the characters, the cast had to work well as a group. — Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 The story begins with a restaurant mishap that ignites a feud between the two characters, both already navigating difficult lives. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 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
  • It is bound up with identity, memory, relationships, safety and the making of the self.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Josh, a perpetual self-optimizer, is convinced that an upswing is just around the corner.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 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
  • Lately, though, she’s cultivated a reputation as a literary tastemaker.
    — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026
  • Atlanta solidified its reputation as the nation’s Black cultural capital, home to thriving historically Black colleges and universities, Fortune 500 companies, influential churches, artists, filmmakers, and political leaders.
    — Jeffrey Bennett, Time, 17 July 2026
Definition of reputation
Noun
  • What consumer businesses actually demand from an investor The investors who have built durable track records in consumer categories tend to share a set of characteristics that look different from the profile of a successful B2B services acquirer.
    — Gustaf Lundberg Toresson, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • For the sunfish, the interaction could provide new insights into their anatomy and other physical characteristics.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 July 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • Rockport’s artistic identity remains very much alive, with more than 30 galleries and the Rockport Art Association and Museum anchoring the local scene.
    — Jenn Sinrich, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026
  • The youngest members of the team have bought in to the identity general manager Scott Perry and coach Doug Christie are trying to create.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of identity
Noun
  • Here’s a look at some of the numbers racked up by the person overseeing the tournament that will have featured a record 104 matches spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the largest geographic footprint in World Cup history.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Odysseus also prided himself on being the only person able to string his sturdy bow.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 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

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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 24 Jul. 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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