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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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

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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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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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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
Two years after James' murder, Wimunc also pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to life in prison. —Mason Leath, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2025 Hennen and Fairley are career criminals with serious charges on their lengthy rap sheets. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
It's been used to charge massuses who go too far, people who grab strangers and people who have crossed the line with family members and minors. —Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Nov. 2025 Miller and two preschool staff administrators, Kathryn Ascher and Annemarie Fraker, were charged following a five-month investigation that began in August 2022. —Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 8 Nov. 2025 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
  • Prosecutors initially sought felony charges against Dunn, but downgraded the case to a misdemeanor after a grand jury declined to return an indictment.
    — Andrew Goudsward, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Nguyen allegedly charged toward a Homeland Security Investigations officer during a street fight, scraping the officer’s knees, though prosecutors dropped the federal case before indictment after concluding the evidence was too weak to proceed.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of indictment
Noun
  • The Arkansas Insurance Department's primary mission is to protect consumers and ensure the financial stability of insurers, according to the release.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025
  • In 2024, SpaceX launched 138 missions, 134 of them orbital and the other four Starship test flights.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of mission
Noun
  • Most bulbs should be planted pointy side up because the stem and leaves emerge from this end, but check the label for specific instructions.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Instead, customers will have to follow a set of instructions to claim the platform's financial promise.
    — Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • That gap creates an opportunity—and a responsibility—for leadership.
    — Kelly Jones, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The title refers to the blame placed on working women tacitly assigned responsibility for their kids as well as their jobs, an assumption that becomes explicit in a time of crisis.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • All three nuclear powers have established their own nuclear triad, consisting of ICBMs, submarines armed with ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft, which ensure their forces can survive a first strike and retaliate, thereby deterring a nuclear attack.
    — Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • But in the final weeks of the race, both campaigns traded personal attacks.
    — Joe Hernandez, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Many young consumers, already juggling high costs for food, rent, and education, and crushed by an unsympathetic labor market, are entering adulthood with the self-care budget of a socialite twice their age.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The Water Utilities has to study demographics and costs once the first two questions are answered.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of cost
Noun
  • Featuring voice work from Coco Teehan Roche, the film reflects BAFTA and Emmy winning studio Cartoon Saloon’s interest in cultural folklore and environmental stewardship.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Their stewardship has kept deforestation rates in Indigenous Lands in the Brazilian Amazon up to 83% lower than in unprotected areas globally.
    — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of stewardship
Noun
  • Different food hubs help farmers cut expenses by providing a variety of resources, such as warehousing, transportation and delivery, education, marketing, contract management and some even provide supplies to farmers.
    — Cristina LaRue, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
  • However, data provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges shows that cost-of-living increases, not tuition, drove up the expense of studying medicine in recent years.
    — Tribune News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
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 14 Nov. 2025.

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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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