duende

noun

dü-ˈen-(ˌ)dā How to pronounce duende (audio)
Definition of duendenext
as in appeal
the power of irresistible attraction even as a child, she had an unmistakable duende that attracted the attention of passersby

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 duende That involved the special forces paying due heed to Indigenous cosmology which suggested a malign shapeshifting being known as a duende was conspiring to hide the children from their would-be rescuers. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025 In some of its most memorable reporting, former host Maria Celeste Arrarás and the team of reporters shared stories of duendes lurking in trees in Central America, brujas voladoras captured on camera by a shaky camcorder, and UFO or alien sightings. — Alex Zaragoza, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023 Charisma, class, and style all have something to do with duende. — Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2021 Which means that, for a dancer, duende is not only a mystical inspiration. — Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2019 Krug is no Orr, because no one can recreate that time, that talent that duende, but the winning rush was of near-No. — BostonGlobe.com, 23 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duende
  1. appeal
  2. charm
  3. fascination
  4. attractiveness
  5. sweetness
  6. attraction
  7. glamour
  8. magic
Noun
  • His screen appeal combines a mix of swagger and self-deprecating, and at times evokes (a taller) Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Can Kushner’s billions of dollars and unlimited access deliver the kind of magnetic appeal that began with the Showtime Lakers in 1979?
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of appeal
Noun
  • There’s no mistaking the pop sensibilities that made this song cross over for the country star, from the Carpenters-worthy soft-pop charm of that piano intro to the lush orchestration on the bridge.
    — Ed Masley, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • From song to screen With her southern twang, witty charm and stunning looks, Parton was a natural in front of the camera.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of charm
Noun
  • And of his fascination in the idea that people might go on living after death, in oblivion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
  • That personal fascination would eventually shape Big World Pictures’ identity.
    — José Salazar, IndieWire, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of fascination
Noun
  • The list of 500 schools was compiled by the magazine and data research firm Statista, Schools were given a score based on their student outcomes, learning environment and their attractiveness to students.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The stakes are high, with victory on the track bringing in prize money and enhancing the team’s attractiveness to sponsors like Petronas and Microsoft.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of attractiveness
Noun
  • The bacon is cooked until deeply caramelized, with crisp, smoky edges surrounding a rich and tender center, then finished with local Arizona honey for a delicate touch of sweetness.
    — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • And for a few minutes in Kyiv, cultures, death and geopolitics yielded to the power of sweetness and puppy love, as well as the symbolism of resilience and protection.
    — Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of sweetness
Noun
  • Travelers looking for an in-state getaway can also book vacation packages from Denver that combine the train with hotel stays and attractions in Glenwood Springs.
    — Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Continue reading … THROWBACK THRILLS — Disneyland fans beg for return of beloved '60s attraction that shuttered years ago.
    — , FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of attraction
Noun
  • The daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz has cultivated her own aesthetic, ranging from edgy to romantic and from effortlessly off-duty to full red carpet glamour.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Of course, glamour here has never necessarily meant restraint.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of glamour
Noun
  • For The Times) Curating Knott’s magic show will be Rudy Coby, a resident magician at the Magic Castle.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • At the same time, each new iteration of the Muppet Show is a chance to introduce a new generation to the magic of the Muppets.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of magic

Browse Nearby Words

duels
duende
duenna
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Cite this Entry

“Duende.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duende. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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