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

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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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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

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

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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

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
Court documents obtained by the outlet show Dixon was facing criminal charges in neighboring Chesterfield County when her sons were killed. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026 Mack ultimately pled guilty to racketeering and conspiracy charges and was sentenced to three years in federal prison. —Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Verb
Madrid achieved that 94 years ago, when meetings between the two clubs were not quite so charged, to pick up the 1931-32 title, their first league success. —Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 10 May 2026 She is charged with fourth-degree assault – child abuse. —Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 10 May 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
  • Muneeb signed a plea deal on April 15, 2026, admitting to the major allegations in the indictment.
    — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2026
  • In late April, federal prosecutors announced an indictment against the organization, alleging criminal fraud.
    — Odette Yousef, NPR, 12 May 2026
Definition of indictment
Noun
  • What began as a scouting mission ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup evolved into something much bigger.
    — Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 12 May 2026
  • SpaceX has flown all but five of those with NASA’s Space Launch System on the Artemis II mission, a Blue Origin New Glenn mission and three flights from United Launch Alliance making up the rest.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
Definition of mission
Noun
  • The secret to the best control is to make the insecticide applications, following label instructions, before flower buds begin to open.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
  • The instructions are crystal clear as to exactly where the centerline must be.
    — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • Burns asked if Becerra bore responsibility for losing contact with tens of thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children who came over the southern border and were placed with often unrelated adult sponsors across the United States by HHS during the Biden administration.
    — Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 12 May 2026
  • Why the Sedins would be eager to take on this challenge, this greater level of responsibility and legacy-threatening scrutiny that will come attached to it, at this low point in franchise history, is beyond me.
    — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • In recent years, a litany of violent, seemingly unprovoked attacks across Metro led to the deaths or severe injury of several passengers—a confirmation of Angelenos’ worst fears about the system.
    — Oren Peleg, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • According to the Qataris, two Iranian ballistic missiles and three drone attacks led to the injury of three people in the Gulf nation.
    — Michael Loria, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Access to early education remains limited, waitlists are long, and costs continue to rise.
    — Tina Dello Russo, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
  • Travel to North Africa or the Middle East may require more planning, higher costs and longer journeys.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 May 2026
Definition of cost
Noun
  • Our family has been farming in Florida for a century, and the success of the family business is rooted in environmental stewardship and sustainability.
    — Sammy Duda, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
  • The annual Future of Filmmaking keynote will feature Tim Heidecker in a conversation with IndieWire editor-in-chief Dana Harris-Bridson about his multi-disciplinary career and his new stewardship of the InfoWars brand for The Onion.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
Definition of stewardship
Noun
  • If a drug retails for $100 and a hospital can buy it for $60, then charges the patient or their insurance the full $100 price, the hospital then has $40 to put toward other expenses.
    — Dené K. Dryden, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
  • Winner is responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with Prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Definition of expense

Phrases Containing charge

Browse Nearby Words

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 13 May. 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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