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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in characteristic
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind
one of the distinguishing characters of mammals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
Those movies starred Anderson's wife Milla Jovovich as lead character Alice, who will not appear in the new Resident Evil film.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
He has been moved by many viewers who have connected with his character’s journey in pursuing a dream.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
The bleak tortures Ohm concocts for his characters are as vile as the Bilberry’s fetid jacuzzi.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for character
Noun
The introduction of new younger characters, presumably designed to help guide children through Stoller’s already simplified narrative, signals a desire for intergenerational accessibility.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
Those movies starred Anderson's wife Milla Jovovich as lead character Alice, who will not appear in the new Resident Evil film.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
He has been moved by many viewers who have connected with his character’s journey in pursuing a dream.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
The bleak tortures Ohm concocts for his characters are as vile as the Bilberry’s fetid jacuzzi.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
Noun
-
This flirty option sports a plunging V-neck framed by puff sleeves, plus an oversized self-tie bow that adjusts the waist.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Physicists know that small units of all sorts can self-organize into large, complicated structures from simple interactions — a phenomenon known broadly as emergence.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Even Luke Skywalker dons a pair of beige Levi’s—transformed from a miner’s uniform into a symbol of rebellious cool by the likes of James Dean—to blend in with the desert sands of Tatooine, a former mining outpost.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Irises are a symbol of courage and hope—and Van Gogh’s masterpiece evokes vitality, decay, and the cycle of life itself.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Baselitz was charged with offending public morality; the case dragged on for two years before being dismissed, but his reputation was cemented.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
1 May 2026
-
At the time, plenty of commentators treated Juicero as a morality tale.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
London has carved out a global reputation for fintech, combining regulatory sophistication with access to capital, talent and a dense network of financial institutions.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Turkey has built a reputation in dental tourism, offering treatment plans that are often paired with travel support.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Analyze the traits shared by successful long shots in past Derbies, and identify horses carrying those characteristics in 2026.—
Peter Keating,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
These were then vetted by the World's 50 Best Beaches team, who based the final ranking on eight criteria, such as unique characteristics, wildlife, untouched nature and crowds.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Police said the victim, whose identity was not released, was on vacation with two family members from the Unterallgäu region of Germany.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Davis allegedly tried to grab the 8-year-old girl, whose identity is yet to be publicly released, by the child's hair to pull her into a car, Fox 26 and Fresno Bee report, citing Fresno police.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There was evidence of mice where all three of the deceased had worked, and one person had numerous mice in their home, according to the public health office for Mono County, home to Mammoth Lakes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
The person asked not to be named because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.—
Michael Ozanian,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The town’s overflowing with charming Midwest eccentrics, including a cocky mayor (Henry Winkler) and a welcoming barkeep (Lena Headey).—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Those crazy, diverse individuals, that tribe of oddballs and eccentrics, dreamers, and gamblers who make up this business.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
