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

Our formula is based on the universal pleasure of solving a mystery, immersing oneself in an adventure, identifying with inspiring characters, and sharing that sense of liberation so characteristic of adolescence. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 Athens is very much about its neighborhoods, which is characteristic of the city and its people. — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for characteristic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for characteristic

Noun

Willis already has demonstrated the necessary leadership traits to be a franchise quarterback, something that often requires one to consistently fall on the sword — even if the very failure did not remotely involve you.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026
However, because individual plants may not display every characteristic, identify it by several features rather than height or any single trait.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of trait

Adjective

Fossum notes that veterinarians sometimes use odor as a diagnostic clue because certain skin conditions produce distinctive smells.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026
The cult fashion house has a devoted following among Gen Z and fans of alternative fashion and pop culture, including anime enthusiasts familiar with Westwood’s distinctive Orb logo.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of distinctive

Adjective

Figures such as Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed have given Republicans an opportunity to cast Democrats as socially out of touch and misaligned with the typical voter’s values.

— Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2026
These costs have grown 72% since 2015 and now account for 10 to 11% of a typical monthly bill.

— Joe McGee, Hartford Courant, 20 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

Difficult or disruptive events can create opportunities to enact changes or policies that would be hard to implement during normal times.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
According to the investigation, the shooting began as a road-rage dispute between the garbage truck driver, who was performing his normal route, and occupants of a white box truck that was blocking the roadway, the release stated.

— Keily Alfonzo, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of normal

Noun

But a president whose public attention shows no discipline, discernment, or patience isn’t going to discover those attributes at the necessary scale when the cameras turn away.

— John Dickerson, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Under the new agreement, Google will receive environmental attribute certificates (EACs) from a portion (up to 91,000 metric tons) of the steel produced in Stegra’s first year of production.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of attribute

Adjective

In standard reality competitions, performers get to plan, practice, and refine their acts, showcasing their strongest skills.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Unfortunately, 2026’s unprecedented memory crunch has upended that standard operating procedure.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of standard

Browse Nearby Words

charactering

characteristic

characteristics

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Style

“Characteristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characteristic. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of characteristic

noun

adjective

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