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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
Until recently, federal agents working to enforce his orders have detained more immigrants with criminal convictions or pending criminal charges than those without them each week, the data shows. Julia Ingram, CBS News, 30 June 2025 Someone who continues to refuse testing even with a search warrant being issued should expect to face additional charges, officials said. Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Verb
Keep your access fully charged for just $2.50 $1 per month for one year. Zoë Schiffer, Wired News, 29 June 2025 Under a law Congress passed in 1996, telecommunications companies are charged a Universal Service Fund fee – passed on to customers − that boosts phone and internet service to households and hospitals in rural areas, to low-income families, and to public schools and libraries. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for charge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charge
Noun
  • According to an indictment, Soliman brought a backpack weed sprayer filled with flammable liquid and a black plastic container filled with 18 glass bottles and jars full of flammable liquid, several with red rags stuffed through the top to act as a wick.
    Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 30 June 2025
  • The indictment shows a man was shot and wounded at the same time the young boy was shot, and stated Robinson also fired shots in the direction of two other people.
    Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Its mission is to mentor high school students from Albania and other underrepresented communities, and provide support with the college application process.
    Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2025
  • Despite the backlash, the GHF is encouraging other organizations — including its critics — to join its mission to bring aid to the people of Gaza while ensuring Hamas does not get its hands on it.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Applying for a Nordstrom credit card is simple—just head to Nordstrom.com and follow the application instructions.
    Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
  • The note said that one of the jurors is not able to follow the instructions given by the judge.
    Tracy Wright , Lauryn Overhultz , Maria Paronich , Brendan McDonald, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • For the generation currently between 13 and 28 years old, better known as Gen-Z, Trump’s policy bill represents a shift in retirement policy that places more responsibility on the individual.
    Alejandra Rojas, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
  • But the water that none of us can live without is everyday kindness and responsibility.
    Pico Iyer, Time, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Videos posted on Telegram show a large fire near Kremenchuk after the attack.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 29 June 2025
  • Sunday’s attacks follow Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments two days ago that Moscow is ready for a fresh round of direct peace talks in Istanbul.
    Volodymyr Yurchuk, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • Europe’s regulatory environment creates demand for solutions that can then be refined and scaled in markets like the U.S., while Japanese manufacturing expertise can help reduce costs once technologies are proven.
    Nicole LeBlanc, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • In the month after Gov. Gavin Newsom called labor groups representing public employees back to the bargaining table, unions announced deals in which their members could continue working primarily from home for one more year to help California reduce its payroll cost.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • His stewardship of the state during the COVID-19 pandemic was roundly criticized as overreach by Republicans with some municipal leaders ignoring business shutdown orders.
    Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • Trade chips Under the stewardship of president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin, the Canucks have generally been an aggressive team on the trade market.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Crunching some numbers, that’s a seventh of the total $175 billion cost the White House administration has billed for the project — whose overall expense and viability lawmakers and analysts have repeatedly questioned — in a short stretch.
    Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 4 July 2025
  • In addition to the tax cuts, businesses (employers) will be permitted to continue writing off equipment costs and expenses in the first year of purchase.
    Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Charge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charge. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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