DUENDE Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

duende

noun

dü-ˈen-(ˌ)dā

Definition of duende

as in appeal

the power of irresistible attraction even as a child, she had an unmistakable duende that attracted the attention of passersby

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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

Noun

Hacky sack’s revival is digital in its distribution and analog in its appeal.

— Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
His public appeal came after Russia bombarded Kyiv with drones and missiles in another deadly attack at the start of the week.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 8 July 2026

Definition of appeal

Noun

From this space emerges the witch, a symbol of collective female strength and a figure through whom fascination and fear continue to be explored.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
Fans want to feel as close to the objects of their fascination as possible.

— Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 8 July 2026

Definition of fascination

Noun

Owners can enhance their business's attractiveness by packaging existing services into ongoing agreements, transforming it into a more predictable and transferable asset for sale.

— Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
The body-hugging jean aligns with the viral phenomenon centered on maximizing physical attractiveness through deliberate changes to appearance, grooming, fitness, style and medical procedures.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 24 June 2026

Definition of attractiveness

Noun

The natural sweetness of the rum’s grade A molasses will require less sugar, and the structure that comes with age may inspire you to sip this one in the evening at sundown when the temperatures dip, rather than midday poolside.

— Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Like the perfect peach, your fruit salad should dance between acidity and sweetness.

— Cooking Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Definition of sweetness

Noun

Yet until now there has not been a major film adaptation, which was part of the attraction.

— Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
As for the top cities, tried-and-true reign supreme with phenomenal attractions, superlative hotels, and electric dining scenes.

— Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Definition of attraction

Noun

Construction began in 2024, following a design intended to suggest Hollywood glitz and glamour.

— Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
The other became synonymous with luxury retail, designer fashion and the glamour of Knightsbridge, helping redefine department store shopping during the 1990’s and became an icon of high fashion and ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ punch-lines.

— Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of glamour

Noun

Cloudflare’s new architecture allows content owners to set a minimum price and AI crawlers to set a maximum bid, and lets the magic of a two-sided marketplace take it from there.

— Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 7 July 2026
But the real key to the magic is that frenetic tone — the dirty, grungy, previously unheard sludge created when guitarist/Ray’s brother Dave Davies slashed his amp’s speaker with a razor.

— Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

Definition of magic

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duels

duende

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“Duende.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duende. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of duende

noun

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