characters 1 of 2

Definition of charactersnext
plural of character
1
as in symbols
a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader the pictorial characters of the ancient Egyptians had long been a mystery

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as in identities
the set of qualities that make a person different from other people she regards each of her children as having a distinctive character that should be valued for what it is

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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characters

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of character
as in characterizes
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group formerly charactered as "the dark ages," that period of history may not have been quite so benighted as once thought

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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 characters
Noun
Dripping glitter, shimmering adhesive crystals, dramatic slashes of eyeliner and smudges of eyeshadow—there was a playful, shifting experimentalism here, to signal the young characters’ changeability and ingenuity. Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026 But the characters unfold before us in their exchanges, and the play makes room for the actors to inhabit the complexities and contradictions of lives caught in the vise of history. Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 Wyle sees the fandom response stemming from a desire for Robby to remain straightforwardly good, not a reflection of the show’s shifting priorities about which characters are emphasized or how they’re portrayed. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026 The new film stars Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, all playing characters who appeared in the original movies. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026 These two characters don't spend much time together onscreen. Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026 The company began to cut back on its animatronic bands and characters a few years ago. Jenna Thompson april 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026 This interplanetary outing picks up nine years after the Goldilocks asteroid heist in 2012 as a new generation emerges while our principal characters enjoy their silver years. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026 It’s all constructed in a way that makes the tone feel somewhat sad, informed by some of the missions of these characters. David John Chávez, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
What would Six Flags look like without its most valuable properties like Looney Tunes and, especially, its DC Comics characters Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman? Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025 KPop Demon Hunters characters Derpy Tiger and Sussie were also featured. Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 28 Nov. 2025 Netflix characters Derpy Tiger and Sussie from KPop Demon Hunters will also join the lineup. Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characters
Noun
  • Voters will face a jumbo-sized ballot featuring candidates' photos and party symbols, a longstanding practice in a society historically marked by low literacy levels.
    Simeon Tegel, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
  • It is made entirely from gold sheets and ornately decorated with protective symbols.
    Ryan Brennan April 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Those crazy, diverse individuals, that tribe of oddballs and eccentrics, dreamers, and gamblers who make up this business.
    Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
  • On her trail are a Báthory relative who is vegetarian (Thomas Schubert), his psychotherapist (Lars Eidinger), two vampirologists, a police inspector and a gallery of eccentrics.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Both detectives have reputations as active cops, Maden with 254 felony arrests and 22 citations for good police work, Algerio with 95 felony arrests and three citations, records show.
    Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Despite their over-the-top reputations, their contributions are less about adding a boisterous EDM drop and more about accentuating Toki’s strengths.
    E.R. Pulgar, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The unusual characteristics of dark matter have prompted scientists to search beyond the standard model of particle physics for particles that could comprise it.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026
  • This is particularly important for individuals who have concealed their characteristics and do not meet the autism or ADHD descriptions.
    Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Story details for the second season are being kept quiet, though it’s expected the show will follow the broad outlines of season one, where Glover and Erskine’s characters were hired by a mysterious spy agency to take on new identities and carry out missions around the world.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Investigators are still trying to determine the identities of the suspect or suspects in the vehicle and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
    Austen Erblat, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There are 10 restaurants at The Breakers, which includes two eateries that are a bike ride away, each with their own distinct personalities.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Americans no longer turn to TV and newspapers as their primary source of news, instead turning to online opinion personalities and comedians, particularly those on the right, gaining steam among people who voted in the last presidential election.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The author characterizes Huntington Beach itself as an inherently self-aggrandizing, wealthy coastal enclave unrepresentative of broader California concerns, dismissing the notion that this affluent beach town should serve as a model for statewide governance or the state’s future direction.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
  • But the decision also characterizes the law as viewpoint discrimination (specifically here the desire to change someone’s LGBTQ+ identity), which is almost never allowed under the First Amendment.
    Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Today, Nakamachi’s 20 years of research suggests that the cookies most of us are familiar with today were almost certainly inspired by these Japanese originals.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • After the tough situation with Elio that followed a slow box office start for 2023’s Elemental (although that movie ultimately collected a small profit), Hoppers earned sterling reviews and has surpassed $330 million at the global box office, giving hope to future originals like next year’s Gatto.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Characters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characters. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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