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

That's been one of the brand's defining characteristics for years, and the RZ continues that tradition, albeit in Lexus’ new, more open cabin approach. — New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026 But drainage ditches with the right characteristics can hold deer. — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Growing support for the arts in small town America, funded by philanthropists including the Carnegie Foundation, created more opportunities for Wood to make work that felt characteristic of his region. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The performance became an unlikely flashpoint, with Bridgers responding to the criticism with characteristic irreverence. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for characteristic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for characteristic

Noun

The traits rewarded in high-performing individual contributors—like decisiveness, high output, competitive drive—are not necessarily the same traits that make an effective manager.

— Miriam Groom, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Like Saban, Smart demands physicality, instills competitiveness and obsesses over details — traits Sumrall values, too.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of trait

Adjective

Altadena had a distinctive and cherished identity before the fire.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
The tiny Norwegian archipelago, 68 degrees north of the Arctic Circle and two flights from Oslo, is a distinctive and dramatic landscape with spiky mountains rising from the Norwegian Sea and sandy beaches fringed by fjords.

— Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of distinctive

Adjective

The museum isn’t located in downtown Houston or anywhere near the stadiums, the museum district, or typical attractions people visit in the city.

— Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2026
The gravity on the surface can be several billion times Earth’s, and a typical neutron star’s magnetic field is billions of times stronger than Earth’s as well.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of typical

Noun

Another key feature are the balconies overlooking the gently flowing Shirakawa River.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
The car has a gorgeous flowing design, but as with other supercars in the seven-figure segment, a head-turning exterior is far from its most breathtaking feature.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of feature

Adjective

All rooms have private pools and decks, and are connected to distinct, individual communal areas with pools, firepits, and dining areas.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
Variant analysis identified 948 distinct vulnerabilities behind those exploits.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of distinct

Adjective

It's shot up from less than $97 at the start of the month on uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global energy industry to return to normal.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Menopause is the normal part of a woman’s aging process that marks the end of her reproductive years.

— Lyndon Haviland, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of normal

Noun

The organization gave the sandwich an overall score of 75, a four out of five nutrition score and a five out of five sensory score, which is based on flavor and texture attributes.

— Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
And sometimes, the explicit absence of a contradictory signal can provide as much clarity as a matching attribute.

— Filip Popovic, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of attribute

Adjective

The Storm also receives a metal motor cover instead of the standard Ultra's plastic component, along with glossy purple, glossy white, and black-blue finishes.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026
The original tip about the arrests, Israel’s Channel 12 News later reported, came from Netanyahu’s chief of staff, who bypassed standard channels to personally reach the police commissioner.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of standard

Browse Nearby Words

charactering

characteristic

characteristics

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Characteristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characteristic. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of characteristic

noun

adjective

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