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
These rustic styles add charm and a sense of history to modern bedrooms. Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026 Dinner is a playground of refreshing charm and joyful abandon; expect fresh takes like cavatelli with pepperoni butter or spaghetti alla chitarra with crab and tomato gravy. Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
The commissioners were charmed, but the real win was when a representative of a local homeowners’ association invited the students to attend their next meeting to discuss the project. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026 The Academy is still charmed by the director-actress combo of Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for charm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charm
Noun
  • Did you get picked because the amulet looked best with your outfit?
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
  • At Tel Azeka, a little girl found a 3,800-year-old amulet tied to the Canaanite people.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This dynamic has produced a range of figures, from the late Sathya Sai Baba, who claimed to perform miracles, to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose appeal lies in his widely popular Art of Living Foundation, which offers yoga and spiritual advice.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Savannah Guthrie opened the family’s plea by thanking supporters for their prayers before describing her mother as the heart of their family and making a direct appeal for contact, stressing Nancy Guthrie’s fragile health and urgent need for medication.
    Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz , Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • It’s filled with super-heightened emotions; unrestrained passion, betrayal, evil and even a magic spell or two.
    David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Hunt has worked at Apple for the past eight years, her longest spell in an executive post throughout her career.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The pendant features the letters L, F, G, L, and E, which stands for her grandkids’ names of Lola, Freddy, Gus, Eliza, and Louis.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The amber hue of the beaded chokers acts as a neutral color against the lapis-blue top, emulating a similar warmth to the yellow-gold pendant to tie the accessories together.
    Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • From legal aspirations to a life of art As a girl, I was fascinated by color, texture and creative expressions.
    Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 5 Feb. 2026
  • His life’s tapestry reflected a unique business, American and Jewish journey that fascinated and inspired me.
    Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Translated by Sara Khalili Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran resembles a half-lifeless body collapsed on the ground, yet still possessing powerful arms.
    Shahrnush Parsipur, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The remaining three are charged with conspiracy to use, transfer, acquire and possess SNAP benefits.
    Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • British Vogue reported that Nicola's mother, model Claudia Heffner, added an evil eye talisman to her daughter's wedding dress, along with a message stitched in blue.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Carved from whale bones, reindeer antlers and walrus tusks, these fierce talismans are vengeful spirits traditionally created by shamans to destroy enemies.
    R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • One of the reasons to grow this plant is its attractiveness to Gulf fritillary butterflies, whose exclusive relationship with it parallels that of monarchs with milkweed.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
  • United by their resentment of women, incels tend to see attractiveness as a straightforward function of genetics—millimeters, symmetry, skin color—and therefore out of their control.
    Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Charm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charm. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.

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