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

This new holiday will henceforth honor one of our finest and most cherished national characteristics—our ability to live and work together, men and women of all national origins, as one united and progressive nation. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026 These premium fruits also often require methodical techniques to ensure their signature characteristics, like the precise amount of sunlight or the timing of pruning. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that causes fever, respiratory symptoms and a characteristic rash. — Julhas Alam, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026 When a particle travels faster than light can in water, its shockwave emits a characteristic glow called Cherenkov radiation, the blue light seen in nuclear reactors. — Matt Von Hippel, ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for characteristic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for characteristic

Noun

Below, Forbes Coaches Council members share some unusual questions to ask and the kinds of traits or behaviors their answers may reveal.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
The early amphibian is described in a study published today in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, and is an example of how some of the classic traits seen in today’s living frogs and salamanders evolved.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of trait

Adjective

The experiments also produced the distinctive double hysteresis loop associated with antiferroelectric materials.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
Details like labels, pocket flashers, packaging and visual assets were reimagined through Imogene + Willie’s distinctive design process.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of distinctive

Adjective

Instead of reaching out to typical Western researchers and scientists, Boyland and his team went to Africa and approached wildlife guides, drivers, photographers, and locals who saw wildlife daily.

— Addie Morfoot, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026
Options flows from institutional investors are around three times higher than a typical September, the data shows.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of typical

Noun

De Jong plans to redevelop the building with 25 housing units, in a mix of studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms, alongside resident amenities and a commercial space on the first floor, plans show, while restoring historic features.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
Such thoughtful considerations are also evident with the 16-way adjustable seats in the front, complete with their own climate control and massage features.

— Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of feature

Adjective

Canaccord upgraded the stock and Guggenheim and Stifel both raised their targets to $300 after Dreamforce, with Stifel citing management's reaffirmed $63 billion fiscal 2030 revenue target built on six distinct AI monetization paths.

— Tony Zhang, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
Initial laboratory experiments found that the ART repeat array is expressed as multiple distinct short RNAs.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of distinct

Adjective

The chips are power-hungry (a ChatGPT AI query consumes about ten times as much energy as a normal Google search) and also generate a lot of heat, which requires cooling systems.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 27 Sep. 2026
On the heels of a normal-sounding nominee for surgeon general comes another normal-sounding nominee for the FDA.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of normal

Noun

Focus And Discernment Professionals from the private sector who come to the nonprofit sector bring several important skills and attributes, such as a clear focus and discernment that helps avoid mission drift.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Since the 1960s, cesium has been the element of choice, though clocks based on other metals, such as ytterbium or strontium, have been created for their own handy attributes.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of attribute

Adjective

The geometry of order The research team aimed to investigate how combining these non-standard reflection properties with an asymmetrical cavity reshapes wave dynamics.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
In the standard story, the United States, Britain, and France stood by, wringing their hands and straining for appeasement while the Japanese stampeded through Asia and Nazi Storm Troopers ran roughshod over Europe.

— Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of standard

Browse Nearby Words

charactering

characteristic

characteristics

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Characteristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characteristic. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of characteristic

noun

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

epistemic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes