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

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
Stajmiger spends time in the makeup chair before slipping into Beetlejuice's signature costume, completing the transformation from actor to one of Broadway's most recognizable characters. Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026 The series’ pilot, co-written by show creators Ellis and Ryan Murphy, does an admirable job of introducing the characters and their fraught dynamics along with the threat of a murderer known only as the Trawler. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026 Her dynamic and memorable characters continue to inspire new generations of actors and filmmakers. Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026 To have complex moral dilemmas for characters and situations within a narrative context. Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026 Lange is playing all four of her characters; Paulson is playing six and Peters, five. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026 Through his characters’ exploits, Ellis depicts two LAs—the teenage universe of mall food courts, movie theaters, and arcades, and the power lunch spots that underscore their precociousness. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 30 July 2026 His entries have always been besieged by cameos from popular characters such as Iron Man, Nick Fury, or, as in No Way Home, the Spider-Men that preceded Holland’s take. David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 Susan Seaforth-Hayes and the late Bill Hayes’ Days of Our Lives characters tied the knot two years after the real-life pair wed in October 1974, while the Hayeses’ costars, Casey Moss and True O’Brien, walked down the aisle in May 2025. Christina Dugan Ramirez, PEOPLE, 30 July 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
  • Trademark law protects distinctive brand identifiers—like words and symbols—that tell the public exactly who is behind a product.
    Ashlee Difuntorum, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The video features key symbols of Chicano culture, from lowriders to marionette dolls and sparkly Lady of Guadalupe statues.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 31 July 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
  • Lafreniere, William Nicholl, Rudolfs Berzkalns and Owen Michaels all have top-flight reputations for two-way play; all will be shy offensive types.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • The spring warrant cited charities, a hospital, other city officials and community members that Parris declined to identify for fear of their reputations being ruined.
    Pat Maio, Daily News, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • Hoyos said the move was made because Rios Novo, who was Miami’s starter during its MLS Cup championship run, has characteristics that better suit the team’s playing style.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • The five points of the star represent the characteristics of a good citizen, which are fortitude, loyalty, righteousness, prudence, and broadmindedness.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • The identities of the family members were confirmed two days later after autopsies.
    Matt Foster, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • To keep innovation moving, leaders should bake IDV into the compliance path so verified identities, keys and roles streamline approvals instead of slowing delivery.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on popular personalities and retro revivals.
    , FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • OpenAI shelled out some serious cash to host about 30 internet personalities at a luxury resort called Wildflower Farms in upstate New York over the weekend.
    Emily Forlini, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
  • Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.
    Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Lou Reed modeled the sort of petulant sing-talking that characterizes her verses.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • Strada’s website characterizes the candidate as a successful businessman.
    Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Characters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characters. Accessed 7 Aug. 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