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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Relevance
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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

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
Was there any challenge to transition your characters to a different country and culture? Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026 The actors who play those characters, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, have rocketed to fame, even getting asked to run the Olympic torch for the Milan Cortina Games in February. Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026 For real actors, AI opens new doors, offering them a chance to bring their own digital characters to life through their AI actor, a true extension of their craft. Eline Van Der Velden, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026 Throughout the series, characters in bigger bodies are depicted as abject, undesirable, and ill. Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026 This ship has taken on a mind of its own worldwide and with that, a lot of people can’t separate the characters from our personal reality, which comes with the territory though. Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026 Despite the cesspits of conspiracy-think that pollute contemporary politics, the specific paranoia of Letts’s characters — bugs under the skin, brainwashing, nefarious doctors in government labs — feels less blazingly relevant than comparatively quaint. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026 The rollout culminated in a deal between Disney and OpenAI that will see select Disney characters licensed to the AI video platform and the media company paying $1 billion for an equity stake in the AI firm. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026 The British import sitcom by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant — a hit on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean — is now a musical mockumentary with all your favorite characters. Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 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
  • But the underlying concept of the meme arguably predates Dawkins — humans have long used symbols to pass along ideas, as The New York Times noted in 2022.
    Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Built between the late 1800s and early 1900s, these architectural gems survived the 1906 earthquake and flourished as symbols of endurance.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The logger and railsplitter occasionally encounters American eccentrics, like a chatty drifter prone to sporting bible verses and an old coot of a demolitions expert with a philosophical bent.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2025
  • Appealing to consumers searching for a piece of history, the store has gained a following of visitors hunting for unique souvenirs, designers on inspiration trips and local eccentrics.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Not up to us are our bodies, possessions, reputations, public offices — in short, whatever is not our own doing.
    Massimo Pigliucci, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
  • This insidious development is reversing at double speed the process of self-reinforcement—the hiring of original and distinctive talent and the building of reputations for competence and probity—that brings institutions their authority.
    Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Described as independent, intellectually curious and socially conscious, these characteristics align closely with traits psychologists study under the umbrellas of openness to experience, individualism and humanitarian concern.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The company says the system incorporates high-resolution, wraparound sensors designed to detect force, contact direction, object edges, and surface characteristics.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Additionally, puppies are able to form dual identities at the very start of their lives—part human, part dog—in a way that wolf cubs are simply incapable of doing.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The strategy also includes a reorganization designed to sharpen the identities of its 11 brands and centralize core capabilities.
    Steven Norton, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • People with certain personalities seem better suited to processing setbacks than others.
    Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Deerfield Beach is cutting ties with the Broward Sheriff’s Office after a 35-year relationship that deteriorated over the last 12 months, with each side accusing the other of disrespecting leadership and putting politics and personalities ahead of policing needs.
    Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Sandro Petraglia’s script characterizes him as a dashing rogue out of his depth, an artistic genius in an illicit trade, a disco-loving womanizer, all of which Castellitto performs with confidence.
    Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
  • After his almost one-year hiatus, the Puerto Rican artist makes his comeback with a suave Afrobeats that evokes romanticism and desire—a shift from the flirty reggaetón sound that best characterizes him.
    Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • As part of Netflix’s ongoing round of international slate announcements, the streamer unveiled a batch of new originals and updates on several others.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
  • One of approximately 40 examples of the FXX K Evo built from 2017 to 2019, this single-owner car is one of only about 10 factory-originals, as opposed to a conversion from an earlier FXX spec car.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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