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

Its newer materials and manufacturing methods are intended to reduce the time and resources required to maintain its low-observable characteristics. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026 The hypnosis of the zone shared characteristics with the Skinner-box effect. — New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026

Adjective

Drone motors and propellers generate characteristic sounds during operation. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026 Morrison, in her thrall, put aside his skiing career and his inchoate dreams of Everest, and instead, with his characteristic intensity, tried his hand at home construction. — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for characteristic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for characteristic

Noun

Earlier in the episode, for example, Frog tells Lee that his love of chasing women is a heritable trait.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2026
Without those traits, analysts spend more hours cleaning spreadsheets than reading them.

— Felysha Walker, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of trait

Adjective

The album earned widespread critical acclaim for its intricate arrangements and the distinctive interplay between Lloyd’s and Verlaine’s guitars.

— Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2026
By the time of their 1974 debut at CBGB, Verlaine and Hell had recruited Lloyd to be the group’s second guitarist, a move that gave Television its signature and distinctive dueling Strat-versus-Jazzmaster sound.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of distinctive

Adjective

The first Taibaan film raised THB2 million ($59,000), or THB4 million ($119,000) including marketing, and grossed THB35 million ($1 million), in a market where a typical Thai feature costs THB30 million ($891,000) or more.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026
Vagabond Haven The interior measures 59 sq m (635 sq ft), spread over two floors, offering significantly more room to move around in than a typical towable tiny house.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of typical

Noun

Mobile service vehicles for the Miami-Dade Tax Collector’s Office feature jumbo images of Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez, a Republican who was also elected in 2024.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
That leaves a temporary distinction between ChatGPT’s standard voice conversations and its interactive visual features.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of feature

Adjective

That lack of definition extends to the sound of the record, which transforms hyperactively from track to track, echoing the sounds of many other artists without ever quite establishing a distinct profile.

— Aimee Cliff, Pitchfork, 11 Nov. 2026
Filmed in and around guests’ bathrooms, the series features creatives with distinct points of view who have built something of their own, reflecting Jolie’s ties to fashion, design, art, and culture.

— Karin Eldor, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of distinct

Adjective

There’s no telling how long these discounts will last, so be sure to find the one that fits your cleaning needs before prices return to normal.

— Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2026
The latest Santa Ana wind event moving through Southern California will peak Saturday, but higher-than-normal temperatures and elevated fire risk will remain through next week.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 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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Style

“Characteristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characteristic. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of characteristic

noun

adjective

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