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Definition of chargenext
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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charge

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verb

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as in to ask
to set or receive as a price any shop would charge $100 to repair that thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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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

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
What records say Kerlew faced a long list of charges in the early 2000s in Florida’s Palm Beach County, according to the local court clerk’s office. Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026 Performance limits and safety metrics The same units tolerated short 30-second power pulses up to 10C when held at a 50% state of charge. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
Verb
The suspect was charged with 21 felony counts of animal cruelty. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026 Then, when the charging order is issued, the charging order will also be filed in the state of the LLC's formation. Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for charge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charge
Noun
  • Freedom is an indictment of systems, institutions, and people who have failed women, Black people, the young, the poor, and me.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
  • Similar raids by the feds at addresses tied to then-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and then-San Leandro City Councilmember Bryan Azevedo eventually led to criminal indictments against both politicians, as well as the businessmen accused of bribing them.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • These individuals are deeply collaborative, mission-driven and eager to innovate at the intersections of disciplines.
    Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 16 June 2026
  • It was used in bombing missions during the current conflict between the US and Iran.
    Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • Authorities also urged anyone celebrating to follow NYPD instructions.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
  • Before cleaning your oven with vinegar, consult the manufacturer's instructions.
    Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi appeared to acknowledge Iran's responsibility for the helicopter attack in a statement posted on social media.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 10 June 2026
  • The Security Service of Ukraine later claimed responsibility for the assassination.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • The families allege that the attacker used ChatGPT to plan the attack, and that the company did not do anything to stop it.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 13 June 2026
  • And, in any case, many legal experts say the boat attacks amount to extrajudicial killings in violation of international law.
    Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Even in the 1970s, the RAND Corporation, a US thinktank, was investigating how Dassault managed to field advanced fighter jets on time and at a cost well below US manufacturers.
    Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
  • Those designs showed roadways through people’s homes, particularly in historically Black neighborhoods that have borne the cost of growth before.
    Nicholas Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Under Goodell’s stewardship, football has become the undisputed king of American sports.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 9 June 2026
  • Apple has come a long way under his stewardship, launching some of its most important products, such as the Apple Watch and MacBook Neo.
    Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • But child care for two children would cost well over $1,000 a month per child — a daunting expense for a family suddenly relying on a single income.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
  • Xcimer’s engineering targets include limiting laser manufacturing expenses to less than $100 per joule to ensure competitive energy pricing.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Charge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charge. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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