CHARACTERISTIC Synonyms: 149 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'characteristic' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of characteristic are distinctive , individual , and peculiar . While all these words mean "indicating a special quality or identity," characteristic applies to something that distinguishes or identifies a person or thing or class. // responded with her characteristic wit

Q: When could 'distinctive' be used to replace 'characteristic'?

While in some cases nearly identical to characteristic , distinctive indicates qualities distinguishing and uncommon and often superior or praiseworthy. // a distinctive aura of grace and elegance

Q: When can 'individual' be used instead of 'characteristic'?

Although the words individual and characteristic have much in common, individual stresses qualities that distinguish one from all other members of the same kind or class. // a highly individual writing style

Q: When might 'peculiar' be a better fit than 'characteristic'?

The meanings of peculiar and characteristic largely overlap; however, peculiar applies to qualities possessed only by a particular individual or class or kind and stresses rarity or uniqueness. // an eccentricity that is peculiar to the British

characteristic 1 of 2

noun

ˌker-ik-tə-ˈri-stik

Definition of characteristic

as in trait

something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind the ability to fashion tools and other characteristics that distinguish human beings from other animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

characteristic

2 of 2

adjective

as in distinctive

serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group the characteristic taste of licorice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in typical

having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind the characteristic wit and good-naturedness of the Irish

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective characteristic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of characteristic are distinctive, individual, and peculiar. While all these words mean "indicating a special quality or identity," characteristic applies to something that distinguishes or identifies a person or thing or class.

responded with her characteristic wit

When could distinctive be used to replace characteristic?

While in some cases nearly identical to characteristic, distinctive indicates qualities distinguishing and uncommon and often superior or praiseworthy.

a distinctive aura of grace and elegance

When can individual be used instead of characteristic?

Although the words individual and characteristic have much in common, individual stresses qualities that distinguish one from all other members of the same kind or class.

a highly individual writing style

When might peculiar be a better fit than characteristic?

The meanings of peculiar and characteristic largely overlap; however, peculiar applies to qualities possessed only by a particular individual or class or kind and stresses rarity or uniqueness.

an eccentricity that is peculiar to the British

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 characteristic

Noun

Fully agentic shopping remains a longer-term prospect, and each company has characteristics that could help insulate its business as the technology develops. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 This can lead to greater insights on their structure, their characteristics and the physics that underlie it all. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026

Adjective

In 1933, for instance, comedy troupe the Marx Brothers unveiled the name of their production company, with a characteristic wink, as International Amalgamated Consolidated Affiliated World Wide Film Productions Company Incorporated, of North Dakota. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026 This haircut still emphasizes the characteristic center-part bangs and layers of the shag cut in a softer, sleeker way and with a longer length. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for characteristic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for characteristic

Noun

The team’s brightest moment comes when Olivia realizes that Daisy has incorporated her unique personality traits, like praying repetitiously and loving the musical Annie.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Publishers sold albums of facsimile autographs, and the interest developed into the field of graphology, the practice of analyzing a person’s handwriting to purportedly discern personality traits.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of trait

Adjective

And yet that bright, sweet aroma is front and center in Creed Aventus, the distinctive eau de parfum widely believed to take inspiration from the French emperor’s indomitable spirit.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
But the show’s appeal went beyond its distinctive look, according to the exec.

— Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of distinctive

Adjective

Between 50 and 60 visitors will make the trek out there on a typical day, according to David Boyd, public information officer for the White River National Forest.

— The Aspen Times, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
The distillery expanded into wood finishing with the launch of Maker’s 46 in 2010, but this wasn’t your typical cask-finished whiskey.

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of typical

Noun

The low-budget feature will mark Just’s directorial debut, and be the second in the new Dogma25 slate of ambitious arthouse features from producer Zentropa.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Produced by Emilie Lesclaux and Film at Lincoln Center, it was shot during the 2025 New York Film Festival, where the two directors were presenting their latest features, and grew out of conversations between them.

— Lise Pedersen, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of feature

Adjective

Coleman said each design has its own distinct character and can be styled individually, either as a subtle everyday detail or a sculptural statement.

— Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Scientists have performed cosmic genealogy on planetary systems in the Milky Way, finding two distinct families that influence the evolution and fate of these systems.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of distinct

Adjective

The prototype was tested on one construction worker during normal activities, including movement, breaks, drinking water and eating.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
In a normal year, most MLB teams would already be looking toward next year at this point in the season, as only a few teams remain alive.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of normal

Noun

Within premium products, there is a focus on longevity attributes in skin care and elegant, sophisticated makeup products among mature middle-class consumers.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
The study also found that daughters’ caregiving more responsive than sons’ to their own and their parents’ attributes.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of attribute

Adjective

But a few months later, at her 18-month appointment, the standard graph that plotted a child’s weight against their age showed her weight slipping off the curve.

— Raj Panjabi, Time, 13 Oct. 2026
For those traveling in standard class with Comfort tickets, there’s a Starbucks, Shot Neighbourhood Coffee, WHSmith and soon-to-open McDonald's, along with a vending machine selling affordable hot meals.

— Sophia Dyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of standard

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charactering

characteristic

characteristics

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“Characteristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characteristic. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of characteristic

noun

adjective

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