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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
4
5
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
7

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The singer has voiced several other iconic characters, including Simba in Disney’s 2019 live-action Lion King movie and Yoshi in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which premiered in April 2026. Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026 Janet shares a lot of scenes with different characters, like Robbie (Morris), Lonnie (Abraham Popoola) or even Frankie (Cary Christopher), the little boy who’s friendly with Ben. Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026 Carney is a moralist, a filmmaker of fidelity—and of renunciation, depicting the romantic near-misses and what-ifs that his characters leave behind. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 29 May 2026 And finally, more water parks and characters will be in Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom. Ella Gonzales may 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026 While their saga has come to an end, the show will employ a Bridgerton-esque strategy in its next season, featuring side characters (the respective best friends of season one’s protagonists) as the next season’s main characters. Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 29 May 2026 Much of the main cast—those whose characters survived S2—are returning, including D’Arcy, Glynn-Carney, and Mitchell. ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026 Their ultimate goal is to soothe both the main characters and the viewers at home, often by allowing characters to address unresolved traumas from their past. Kayti Burt, Time, 29 May 2026 In other words, for younger visitors who are familiar with Pokémon characters but unfamiliar with various types of dinosaurs, the exhibition is a pathway into real science. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Verb
Jon Favreau tells Entertainment Weekly why Star Wars characters Ahsoka Tano and Thrawn don't make an appearance in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026 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
  • Commercial country music, a format of songwriting that is at least somewhat reliant on wordplay and the constant re-arranging of a familiar set of symbols (trucks, mud, whiskey, and so forth), can be particularly susceptible to the accusations.
    Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026
  • Armed with an adventure kit, participants are summoned to a secret location where they’re tasked with deciphering cryptic codes, uncovering hidden symbols, navigating shifting alliances and outwit enemies and operatives stationed around the campus.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • But what the New Yorker writer left behind is some of the finest prose of the 20th century, focusing primarily on the eccentrics, scalawags, seamen, and other denizens of New York’s dank corners.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 2 May 2026
  • The town’s overflowing with charming Midwest eccentrics, including a cocky mayor (Henry Winkler) and a welcoming barkeep (Lena Headey).
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Missing this balance, in the worst-case scenario, can damage brand reputations that took years to build.
    Karolyn Raphael, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
  • But a flurry of recent releases go one step further, tapping into brands that have built their reputations on sustainability.
    Sophie Benson, Vogue, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • The company said the findings support a growing shift toward precision medicine, where therapies are tailored to the biological characteristics of an individual’s disease rather than applying the same treatment approach to all patients with similar clinical features.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
  • This means the fruit from the seedling will closely resemble that of the parent plant in flavor and other characteristics.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • As of publication, the identities of the child victim and the man have not yet been shared.
    Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 24 May 2026
  • Lay’s is the official snack partner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and to capture the cultural and gastronomic identities of the global fans of the sport.
    Valentina Di Donato, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Noun
  • Those keen on his appointment may well hope his approach to managing the squad’s difficult personalities can unlock a more effective way of motivating Madrid’s galacticos to put in the hard yards.
    Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 29 May 2026
  • One by one, many of the network’s most prominent on-air personalities have made their displeasure known, sinking morale among the rank-and-file and prompting leaks and internal frustration.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • The couples who describe their relationship as genuinely easy — not without conflict, but without the grinding exhaustion that characterizes so many long-term partnerships — don’t tend to share the same hobbies or communication style.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
  • In the past couple of decades, however, Czernowin has deëmphasized the frantic gesturing that characterizes so much latter-day modernism.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • The streaming service includes all of the sports network’s channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, SEC Network+ and ACC Network Extra, as well as originals, such as The Pat McAfee Show, 30 For 30 and others.
    Rudie Obias, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2026
  • Incredibly, modern denim jeans bear a great resemblance to the originals, whose birthday is May 20, 1873.
    Catherine Salfino, Footwear News, 20 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Characters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characters. Accessed 31 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on characters

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster