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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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
With dramatic scenery, Native culture and small-town charm, Ketchikan is one of Alaska’s most memorable and meaningful destinations. Alia Beard Rau, USA Today, 10 June 2026 Whether captivating viewers with his effortless charm or displaying an emotional depth that belies his humorous quips, London Brown has carved out a space as both a dramatic force and an undeniable comedic standout. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 June 2026
Verb
The right idea needs more than charm to hold up. Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2026 Roth was free to charm, wink, and flash that high-wattage grin, while the singers amplified the old Halen harmonies. Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for charm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charm
Noun
  • The debut feature from Guillermo del Toro, Cronos tells the story of an older man (Federico Luppi) who discovers a mystical amulet that gives him a more energized, youthful demeanor — at a cost.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
  • The cache also contained blue faience vessels, miniature ritual jars, amulets shaped like a duck and the Atef Crown, decorative stones, and several pairs of earrings believed to be made of gold.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • From a fantasy perspective, Ronaldo’s appeal is straightforward.
    Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Businesses with national or broad-market appeal tend to attract the strongest investor interest.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • Runner-up Ishaan Gupta, 12, put up an impressive 25 words in the spell-off.
    Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 29 May 2026
  • Harini Logan won the first spell-off, in 2022, by spelling 22 words in 90 seconds.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • This kitchen is classic with gray countertops, silver pendants, and white Shaker-style cabinets.
    Lauren Jones, The Spruce, 6 June 2026
  • Hamilton is seeing demand for diamond pinky rings, pendants and unconventional designs featuring mixed gemstones, asymmetry and unexpected stone settings.
    Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • The combined disgust, discomfort, ignorance, and fascination with our Indigeneity that unsettled my aunties and fascinated my cousins made more sense to me.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
  • While the remote learning time during the COVID pandemic was challenging for many students, Ashlyn Duran used it to learn more about a subject that fascinated her.
    Amy Stark Shireman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Its security analysis assumes a worst-case scenario in which an attacker may possess quantum correlations with the detector itself.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 June 2026
  • The 23-year-old from Michigan, who claimed his first Cup Series victory in April, possesses a combination of talent and confidence that attracts a fervent following.
    Time, Time, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • There are few players in world football better suited to the Wirtz role than Cole Palmer, even if Chelsea’s talisman has struggled to find his best form this season.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 17 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
  • Ryan Murphy and Matthew Hodgson’s satirical body horror saga about the production of a drug that increases physical attractiveness with deadly consequences takes place in the rarified worlds of high fashion in a world that’s somehow even more image obsessed than our own.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 June 2026
  • Decades later, research continues to find that attractiveness influences hiring decisions, salaries, legal outcomes, and perceptions of competence.
    Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Charm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charm. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

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