as in qualities
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
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Recent Examples of characteristics
Among the more unusual succulents Kent has are crested plants — mutations of plants that give them unusual shapes and other characteristics.
—
Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
That realization has led some investors to examine assets with different characteristics.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 May 2026
While acknowledging that antisemites may have good characteristics—a loving husband, a generous and conscientious citizen—Sartre claimed that their hatred ultimately defines them.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 8 May 2026
The rippling characteristics of water, which were previously thought to be either longitudinal or transverse waves exclusively, were shown to also contain this surface wave component.
—Big Think, 7 May 2026
Over the course of the experiment, Schlamminger spent years calibrating the equipment and troubleshooting the physical effects of characteristics such as temperature and pressure that could confound the measurements to prove these factors weren’t affecting the results.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Observe the damage characteristics, such as hole shape, size, and nearby tracks, to deduce which animal is responsible.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
Analyze the traits shared by successful long shots in past Derbies, and identify horses carrying those characteristics in 2026.
—Peter Keating, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Lizzo is a true Taurus and the astrological sign's best characteristics find themselves in the superstar — and her closet.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
That realization has led some investors to examine assets with different characteristics.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 May 2026
While acknowledging that antisemites may have good characteristics—a loving husband, a generous and conscientious citizen—Sartre claimed that their hatred ultimately defines them.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 8 May 2026
The rippling characteristics of water, which were previously thought to be either longitudinal or transverse waves exclusively, were shown to also contain this surface wave component.
—Big Think, 7 May 2026
Over the course of the experiment, Schlamminger spent years calibrating the equipment and troubleshooting the physical effects of characteristics such as temperature and pressure that could confound the measurements to prove these factors weren’t affecting the results.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Observe the damage characteristics, such as hole shape, size, and nearby tracks, to deduce which animal is responsible.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
Analyze the traits shared by successful long shots in past Derbies, and identify horses carrying those characteristics in 2026.
—Peter Keating, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Lizzo is a true Taurus and the astrological sign's best characteristics find themselves in the superstar — and her closet.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characteristics
Noun
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These are the same issues being raised across rural Texas as the state’s business-friendly environment and lack of regulations — the same qualities that attract many to country life — fuel an expansion of server farms from the Panhandle to the Valley.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
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As the name indicates, it was intended for wear on boats but wound up being widely adopted by skaters because its deck-gripping qualities proved just as useful for sticking to boards.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Noun
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For character traits, officials look for tenacity, an unbridled love to pull and run as part of a team, and social skills.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Loyalty and purity of heart are beautiful traits that many, many people on this earth have.—
Goth Shakira
Contributing,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The bongos are shy and can camouflage despite their distinct white stripes, and these attributes are critical for their survival in the wild.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
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Berterame came to help the team and has incredible physical attributes.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
Noun
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For example, the power output of the laser is not publicly disclosed, as well as other key features like its cooling setup, battery capacity, etc.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
9 May 2026
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Update to the latest version to see all Vogue content, as well as new features like our Runway Genius quiz, Group Chats, and posts from Vogue contributors.—
Rebecca Cope,
Vogue,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Political discussions on social media are often dominated by competing attributions of more and more insidious motives to people on the other side.—
Mark Schroeder,
The Conversation,
20 Feb. 2026
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This post was corrected on 21 January 2021 to clarify attributions.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
12 Jan. 2021
Noun
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Bidding registration is open through June 9, and EJ’s will schedule private viewings for collectors who have met the bidder’s criteria.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
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The Indiana Department of Environmental Management announced its new Local Air Quality Advisory, which will alert Hoosiers of short-term conditions that can become unhealthy for several hours but don’t meet the criteria for an Air Quality Action Day.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Characteristics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characteristics. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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