CHARACTER Synonyms: 277 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

character 1 of 2

noun

ˈker-ik-tər

Definition of character next

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 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

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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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

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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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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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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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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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

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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 of character in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One of the movie’s funnier new characters is a ghost detective, played by Willem Dafoe, who used to be an actor and now can’t stop playing to nonexistent cameras. —

Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2024 Author Michael Connelly, creator of the character and an executive producer of Bosch: Legacy, announced on Instagram Friday that the series will end with its forthcoming third season. —

Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2024

Verb

Here are the 10 best zombie movies on Netflix right now, from raunchy comedies to character dramas and gross-out extravaganzas. —

Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 Funny and sweet, the book is superbly narrated by Eunice Wong, whose versatile voice moves from character to character with ease and persuasiveness. —

Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 25 May 2023 See all Example Sentences for character

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'character.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Style

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 14 Sep. 2024.

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Last Updated: 9 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of character

noun

verb

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Examples of character in a Sentence

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