characters 1 of 2

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

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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
Most of the comedy lies in drawing out the characters’ ridiculous attempts to fit into crime movie archetypes — but more than once, this only draws attention to the film’s own failure to meet the standards of its genre. Elena Lazic, Variety, 26 June 2026 Which is exactly what everyone — meaning the characters in The Bear and those of us watching them — expected from this high-pressure dinner service following a day of challenges that, at least in Neil Fak’s mind, are borderline biblical. Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026 Every fashion week presentation and brand lookbook features a familiar rotating cast of characters. Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 June 2026 Words, ideas, characters, and resolutions mean different things to different people. Literary Hub, 26 June 2026 Winocour shows us the intimate, vulnerable spaces within her characters that those on the outside don’t have access to. Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 The plot, the screenplay, the characters. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 26 June 2026 Fight Club also starred Helena Bonham Carter as Marla Singer, who gets involved with both Norton and Pitt's characters, Meat Loaf as Robert Paulsen, who joins the support group, and Jared Leto as Angel Face, a young member of the fight club. Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Kids love the age-specific kids' programming, Xbox lounge, Sesame Street characters, and enormous water park, while adults enjoy golf, scuba lessons, and 26 dining options, including casual beach spots and upscale fusion restaurants. Chelsea Adams, USA Today, 20 June 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
  • Such is the daily treatment of Rwanda ’s royal cows that have become living symbols of the nation’s cultural heritage.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 June 2026
  • The governing body refused to restrict Pride displays, giving fans the green light to bring rainbow flags and symbols into the stadium.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • Dippold has populated the show with lovable eccentrics played by great character actors—Dale Dickey, Jeff Hiller, Tim Baltz.
    Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
  • Inbred eccentrics and bumbling detectives have populated the seaside villages of Bruno Dumont’s absurdist comedies.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Not only does the media cycle move fast, but reputations can shift just as quickly.
    Heather Kelly, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Those communities can move faster than formal hiring channels and build more trust because reputations form around concrete contributions rather than résumés and cover letters.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Lime Kiln Theater combines all three of those characteristics, offering an annual summer lineup of live performances at its legendary outdoor venue (an old limestone quarry and kiln).
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 June 2026
  • Continuous review President reviews, according to CSU policy, allow the CSU board of trustees to understand the unique characteristics of each campus, assess their leadership and further the school’s progress.
    Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Police did not immediately share the identities of anyone involved in the shooting.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • National identities, the use of local languages, and the expression of different cultures were all subject to control from Moscow.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Notable deaths in 2026 A look back at the esteemed personalities who left us this year, who touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
    David Morgan, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • Omenaa Mensah Amma Omenaa Mensah has built a reputation as one of Poland’s leading philanthropists, media personalities, and cultural entrepreneurs.
    Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • The town’s predicament highlights the limits of any ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, and the lingering hardship faced by residents whose lives have been upended by years of conflict.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • The labor of these aging world-builders becomes a blueprint to navigate memory, legacy, and mortality, revealing the divine spirit residing in their daily lives.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Under that view, a taxpayer who actively participates in management should not receive the benefit simply because state law characterizes the interest as a limited partnership interest.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
  • The network characterizes the request for edits as something that should be happening in the newsroom.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Characters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characters. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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