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
  • He was sentenced to death in 1986, won an appeal for a new sentencing hearing and was again sentenced to death in 1989.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The mish-mash of different stands, for instance, at Harrogate Town’s Wetherby Road — now no longer part of the ’92’, following their relegation in May— gave the place a certain appeal, even though the National League felt a more natural home.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of appeal
Noun
  • Taurus April 20 – May 20 Pleasure can become productive without losing its charm.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Grounds also have a charm many of their modern brethren lack, and the main stand here certainly delivers on that score.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of charm
Noun
  • There he was routinely beaten, an experience which instilled in him a lifelong fascination with flagellation and pain.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But there was a kind of bemusement with our fascination with the Wild West and our fixation on cowboys, and a sense that America has gone off the rails.
    — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of fascination
Noun
  • The judging criteria balanced overall attractiveness and legibility for law enforcement.
    — Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • The list compiled 300 cities of varying sizes across 22 factors of market attractiveness, affordability and quality of life.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026
Definition of attractiveness
Noun
  • Sour cream adds moisture and a slight tang to the cake layer, which helps to balance the sweetness of the brown sugar and peach topping.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2026
  • For fans who missed the combination of tropical sweetness and a sour-candy kick, the creamy drink likely won’t disappoint.
    — Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of sweetness
Noun
  • The neighborhood/area Hôtel Royal is just one of the shining attractions of Evian Resort.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
  • That said, together, the synergy of Venus and Pluto can make an attraction feel more compelling, or perhaps a conversation more intimate than usual.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of attraction
Noun
  • Set the scene Built in 1909, Hôtel Royal’s palatial design was inspired by the glamour and luxury of turn-of-the-century spa resorts.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Kath had been expecting glamour, but in ambient lighting, the function’s loucheness seemed romantic.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of glamour
Noun
  • The interactions between Bourdain and Ciro are pure movie magic and that’s due partly to the performances — both actors have to be in the Oscar race — as well as to the screenplay by Johnson, Todd Bartels, Lou Howe and Matthew Miller.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The kitchen men restarted their cheering as if someone in there was doing stage magic, and Uncle Jimmy leaned closer so he could be heard.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 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 17 Aug. 2026.

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