charm 1 of 2

Definition of charmnext
1
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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4
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

2 of 2

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

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
Try Bollywood Theater for Indian street food — a small, locally rooted restaurant that captures Portland’s knack for blending global flavors with neighborhood charm. Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026 As members of Congress introduce bills to regulate prediction markets, Kalshi is staging a charm offensive in the nation's capital. Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
Personality under the shell Tortoises can charm with their unique personalities, explained Jim Stout, executive director and CEO of the Tortoise Conservancy Inc, which is based near Orlando, Florida. Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026 Meanwhile, while charming your money sector, Venus will clash with Pluto in your 11th house of society (April 3), creating friction or tense conversations with friends around finances or self-worth. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for charm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charm
Noun
  • Daniel Bernhardt is Deathstalker, a legendary swordsman stuck with a cursed amulet who befriends swamp monsters and teams with a mini wizard (voiced by Patton Oswalt) to stop a dark magic from ruling the land.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The text also suggests wearing amulets that bring blessings and aid the transference of consciousness.
    Jue Liang, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Duggan's wife and mother of his six children, Saffrine Duggan, told reporters outside the court in Canberra that his lawyers would consider a further appeal.
    CBS News, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The league’s latest collective bargaining agreement requires players to appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for postseason awards, but Doncic and Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham both won appeals under the CBA’s extraordinary circumstances provision.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • If Bluey uses a wand of asparagus to transform her father into a walrus, her father will behave exactly like a walrus until released from the spell.
    Jean Garnett, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
  • There's nothing quite like sitting for a spell in nature, especially in a Mediterranean garden.
    Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Lighting can do the same—anchor each zone with its own fixture (a pendant over the table and a softer glow in the lounge), and a great room can start to feel like a meal with multiple courses.
    Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Restoring or painting old fixtures and pendants is another way to add something new to your home without spending a lot of money.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In the book, Oppenheimer noted a family legend that Kennedy was fascinated by bugs as an infant; by the age of nine, the book said, Kennedy had a pet collection that included raccoons, rats, a horse, a calf, lizards, chickens, and snakes.
    Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The price of rotisserie and roast chicken has long fascinated New Yorkers.
    Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • For now, both appear to have the edge over Gil, as Weathers and Warren possess more competitive stuff.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2026
  • As the architect of this operational machine, Cook possessed the unique authority and insight required to overhaul it.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Lemann, like the talkative older ladies of her youth, clutches the motifs of her past like talismans.
    Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Manuel Fernandes’ goal, created by West Ham’s outstanding talisman Jarrod Bowen, was a warning, a knock on the door before the hosts blew United’s house down.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Clavicular, whose real name is Braden Peters, is widely viewed as a leading figure in the looksmaxxing community, an online movement of young men pursuing methods to maximize their physical attractiveness.
    Ryan Brennan April 15, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Research conducted by travel insurer InsureandGo found that the scenic railway had the highest attractiveness score across two key measures.
    Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Charm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charm. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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