charm 1 of 2

Definition of charmnext
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as in amulet
something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil an old cap that I use as a charm for whenever I play softball

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in pendant
an ornament worn on a chain around the neck or wrist a dangling charm in the figure of a horse on her bracelet

Synonyms & Similar Words

charm

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word charm different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of charm are allure, attract, captivate, enchant, and fascinate. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

charmed by their hospitality
her performances captivated audiences

When could allure be used to replace charm?

Although the words allure and charm have much in common, allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

When can attract be used instead of charm?

The words attract and charm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

When might enchant be a better fit than charm?

While in some cases nearly identical to charm, enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

When would fascinate be a good substitute for charm?

The synonyms fascinate and charm are sometimes interchangeable, but fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

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 charm
Noun
Few places in Alaska so seamlessly blend Indigenous culture, dramatic scenery, and small-town charm. Josh Rivera, USA Today, 13 May 2026 For the farmhouse aficionados, the Summerville dresser packs charm and character into its slim build. Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 13 May 2026
Verb
Secretary of State Marco Rubio‘s success in charming the Washington press corps this week has moved prediction markets, with Kalshi now showing the Florida Republican as the most likely candidate to win the 2028 presidential election. Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 7 May 2026 Then again, Ortiz has been pretty charmed this weekend with five winners on Friday, including the Oaks, and five seconds in 11 mounts Saturday before capping it with the Derby. Gary B. Graves, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for charm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charm
Noun
  • There’s an amulet (one of those glowing doohickeys the fate of the cosmos hangs on), and your heart may sink every time someone starts chattering about it.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 May 2026
  • Sharp objects like scissors and needles or amulets should be carried by pregnant women or placed near sleeping children to ward off her attacks.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
Noun
  • Still, very few modern pop stars are doing what Mars is doing in making seemingly timeless music with such broad appeal.
    Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
  • While clinics in Seoul and Dubai emphasize injectables and skin treatments, retreats like The Ranch appeal to celebrities who want a fuller reset — combining exercise, nutrition and recovery in a setting designed to feel removed from daily life.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • There was no hot water for several spells last winter.
    Anne Kadet, Curbed, 15 May 2026
  • Over the course of Obsession's 108-minute runtime, Nikki transforms into an self-destructive, possessive, and dangerously violent shadow of her former self as Bear's spell forces her to fixate solely on her unnatural devotion to him—no matter the cost.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • The company has also been working on smart glasses and a pendant with cameras for as early as next year, but development of both of those products trails the AirPods.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
  • Add elegance to a traditional or farmhouse front entrance by hanging a decorative outdoor pendant or chandelier from the porch ceiling.
    Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • The fawn-like icon, star of classics including Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, Two for the Road, Charade, Funny Face, and My Fair Lady, continues to fascinate even 33 years after her early death from a rare abdominal cancer.
    Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
  • The idea of the ouroboros (a snake eating its tail) has always fascinated me.
    Peter Bogdanovich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Lori had Chad evaluate her children's spirits to determine if they were possessed by demons.
    Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
  • Veltman does not, however, possess the same energy levels and ability to get up and down the pitch in support of the attack to suit Hurzeler’s style of intensity like the other three full-back options.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • Ruing the absence of a talisman, an inspirational figure who can bend a game to their will.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 12 May 2026
  • In the dying days of the Russian Empire, highborn ladies would willingly cut the dirty fingernails of the peasant Grigori Rasputin and then sew the clippings onto their dresses like sacred talismans.
    Gerard DeGroot, Air Mail, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Even seemingly benign alterations for aesthetic reasons are prohibited, such as removing the photojournalist’s own shadow or evidence of their camera equipment, removing an unsightly wire or fencepost, or airbrushing someone’s facial features to increase attractiveness.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
  • Kenya’s data center market is projected to triple to $805 million by 2031, according to a new report, with the country’s renewable energy mix among the factors boosting its attractiveness.
    Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 6 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Charm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charm. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

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