charge 1 of 2

noun

Definition of chargenext
1
as in indictment
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person charges of burglary and armed robbery that have yet to be proved

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in mission
a specific task with which a person or group is charged your charge is to keep everyone else organized and busy

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in instruction
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned we've received an official charge about how to handle the situation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in responsibility
something one must do because of prior agreement the first charge of our armed forces is to defend this country against enemy attack

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence the famously disastrous charge led by General George Pickett at Gettysburg

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in cost
the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something the charge for the book will be five dollars

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7
as in stewardship
the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control was given charge of the business during the owner's absence

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8
as in expense
a payment made in the course of achieving a result the charges mounted at a dizzying pace as the building project went way over budget

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9
as in thrill
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings the slopes at this resort aren't particularly challenging and aren't likely to give expert skiers much of a charge

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10
as in management
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something he inherited charge of the Paris bureau after his supervisor quit

Synonyms & Similar Words

charge

2 of 2

verb

ˈchärj How to pronounce charge (audio)
1
as in to ask
to set or receive as a price any shop would charge $100 to repair that thing

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2
as in to impose
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty charges a restocking fee for returned merchandise

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to task
to give a task, duty, or responsibility to we're charging you with the care of your little sister while we're gone for the evening

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to order
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority charged the soldier to keep watch over the prisoner

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to accuse
to make a claim of wrongdoing against he has not yet been charged with any crime

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to fill
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained charge a blast furnace with iron ore

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to assault
to take sudden, violent action against plans to charge the enemy's fortification at daybreak

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to thrill
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings of the players are going into this game still charged from their upset victory the week before

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb charge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of charge are bid, command, direct, enjoin, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

When is bid a more appropriate choice than charge?

While in some cases nearly identical to charge, bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of charge?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

How do direct and instruct relate to one another, in the sense of charge?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls
the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

When would enjoin be a good substitute for charge?

The meanings of enjoin and charge largely overlap; however, enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

In what contexts can order take the place of charge?

The synonyms order and charge are sometimes interchangeable, but order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

How does the verb charge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of charge are bid, command, direct, enjoin, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

When is bid a more appropriate choice than charge?

While in some cases nearly identical to charge, bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of charge?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

How do direct and instruct relate to one another, in the sense of charge?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls
the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

When would enjoin be a good substitute for charge?

The meanings of enjoin and charge largely overlap; however, enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

In what contexts can order take the place of charge?

The synonyms order and charge are sometimes interchangeable, but order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

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 charge
Noun
Companies like Visa and Mastercard charge fees to restaurants and stores every time customers use cards to pay their bills. —The Denver Post, Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2026 Both face auto theft charges locally but are also awaiting extradition back to Oregon to face charges there. —Logan Smith, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
Teyana Taylor, who came charging out of the gate early for her turn as revolutionary Perfidia Beverly Hills, might have something to say about that. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026 She was charged with the count two days after the incident. —Nick Lentz, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for charge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charge
  1. indictment
  2. mission
  3. instruction
  4. responsibility
  5. attack
  6. cost
  7. stewardship
  8. expense
Noun
  • Drozd ordered Lauer, who lives in Lafayette and has been out of custody on his own recognizance since his indictment in 2023, to turn himself in to federal authorities no later than noon on May 5.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026
  • When the investigation is complete, a decision will be made on whether to seek felony indictments and then proceed to trial.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of indictment
Noun
  • Developed to support future missions to Mars, the robot was envisioned to perform early deployment tasks and maintain infrastructure on the Red Planet before astronauts arrive.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Mar. 2026
  • What’s unfolding on the Cape Fear is a preview of a much larger regulatory blind spot in the Corps’s national mission and the broader maritime economy.
    — Patrick Sisson, Scientific American, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of mission
Noun
  • The form and instructions are available there for eligible consumers.
    — James Powel, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Cook the pasta shells for 1 minute less than the package instructions, about 9 minutes, then drain and spray with cooking spray, and place in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.
    — Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • With tariffs, war abroad and slowing growth at home, China's tech companies bear a growing national responsibility.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
  • His proposal would also shift some responsibilities like eligibility verification away from counties, which currently do most of the work of administering social services programs in Minnesota.
    — Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • According to Fairbanks, who moved to South Africa from the United States more than fifteen years ago, attacks on farms appear to be mostly economically motivated crimes.
    — Boyce Upholt, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
  • The attack illustrated the care news outlets must take in reporting during wartime, and the responsibilities of American journalists to report the perspective of countries its government views as enemies.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • The association filed several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the fee, including one that remains pending that argues there should be no cost for renouncing one’s citizenship.
    — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Air space closures have required rerouting flights around parts of the Middle East, which can mean longer routes, additional fuel burn and higher operating costs.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of cost
Noun
  • Getting behind the scenes A great aquarium combines entertainment with an awareness of marine stewardship.
    — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Lawmakers can do their part by prohibiting intentional vehicular killing of wildlife, which would go a long way toward creating a legacy of just and compassionate wildlife stewardship.
    — Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of stewardship
Noun
  • Online and in congressional hearings, Tenev was accused of aiding hedge funds that had shorted GameStop, at amateur traders’ expense.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
  • In Oregon, where psilocybin therapy was legalized in 2023, a third of new clinics have already closed owing to high operating expenses and treatment costs.
    — Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of expense

Phrases Containing charge

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chares
charge
chargeable
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Cite this Entry

“Charge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charge. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on charge

Nglish: Translation of charge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about charge

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