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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
Agency officials did not respond to requests for further information about charges against immigrants taken into custody. Michael Loria, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 In May, Gatlin was arrested on charges of defrauding her former employer, including fabricating fake invoices from vendors such as Jones and receiving kickbacks from them. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
The manhunt identified an initial suspect as George Zinn, but he was just charged with obstruction and absolved of any responsibility in the shooting. Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025 The defendant is now charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and faces life in prison if convicted. Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for charge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charge
Noun
  • That many in the media have ignored the unit’s rise is an indictment.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The new charges originate from that fall, before Rodriguez-Singh left for India, according to the indictment.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • What began as a chance to build a sales team and achieve financial independence turned into a mission to serve working families.
    William Jones, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • On that June mission, all passengers on board the flotilla were detained off the coast, taken to Israel and later deported.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • IEPs set out guidelines for the special education the school will provide the child, specifying the specific accommodations, type of instruction, and behavioral plans that will be used to support the student.
    IndyStar, IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Obiageli Orah, the director of public affairs and consumer protection at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, told Newsflare the passenger repeatedly failed to comply with safety instructions.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Accountability requires taking personal responsibility for your cognitive development.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • This shift represents a fundamental change in how professional development happens, with corporations taking direct responsibility for credentialing workers in emerging technologies.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Bin Laden, through the al-Qaida terrorist organization, targeted the United States for nearly a decade before the 9/11 attacks in 2001, utilizing this large and expansive infrastructure.
    Richard Frankel, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Polish officials said 19 objects entered its airspace during a large Russian air attack on Ukraine.
    George Petras, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The ultra-low-cost model clearly isn't providing customer satisfaction, even if the fares look cheap.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Scientists have developed a low-cost, compact power module that can be used in data centers, microreactors, and heavy-duty vehicles.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Gorman, however, said she is not swayed by claims of environmental stewardship, pointing to the irony of altering Mars’ atmosphere to better suit humans.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Throughout this transition, CPB’s Board and management remain committed to our stewardship mission.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Snowflake, one of the most popular cloud data warehouse platforms, often ranks as a company’s second-largest IT expense after its primary cloud provider.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • He is sponsored by spirits and supplement companies who help pay his travel expenses, but still works in construction during the off-season.
    Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Charge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charge. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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