character 1 of 3

1
2
as in symbol
a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader the pictorial characters of the ancient Egyptians had long been a mystery

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
5
6
as in identity
the set of qualities that make a person different from other people she regards each of her children as having a distinctive character that should be valued for what it is

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

7
8

character

2 of 3

verb

as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group formerly charactered as "the dark ages," that period of history may not have been quite so benighted as once thought

Synonyms & Similar Words

characterless

3 of 3

adjective

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 character
Noun
There’s a lot of ways to reboot Breaking Bad and even build shows around characters from Better Call Saul. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025 But in this film, there’s a flip where Gwen is the lead character and her brother is trying to save her. William Earl, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025 Masterson vouched for Henson’s character and that of his other employees. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2025 Tributes poured in from his co-stars and fans, the latter of whom were also left to wonder about the future of Cloud’s character. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
Noun
  • Russell Crowe plays Amorth, bringing his unique screen charisma in such a way that prevents the film from becoming too self-serious.
    Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Watch our natural selves in behind-the-scenes content, not just our serious stage presence.
    Billboard Korea, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The food allergy community and parents of children with autism have adopted the teal and blue, respectively, as symbols to promote awareness and inclusivity while trick-or-treating.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Explore the symbols, stories and customs of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) through interactive crafts and activities.
    Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But the director manages to spin a clever modern-day morality tale mixing art, social class and big bucks.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Your arrest record, your credit score, your driving history, your rental history — are all just measurements of morality that people use to establish a trust matrix about you.
    Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has earned a reputation as a hardliner on immigration, an image that helped propel her to power amid rising nationalist sentiment and debate over Japan’s identity amid demographic decline.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Garlic, onion, and ginger have earned a reputation for supporting heart health, circulation, and healthy cholesterol levels.
    Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Ancelotti and Zidane certainly had their own tactical ideas, but were also pragmatic and based game plans primarily on the characteristics (strengths and weaknesses) of the squad made available to them.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • For the chattering women, by contrast, the tool of power is writing; and for people who were almost certainly illiterate, the writing takes on almost magical characteristics.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Yates sisters, who belong to a once-prominent family who had been dragged down by a public scandal, cross paths with the twins and embark on a journey of love and constraint, identity and reinvention.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • For Mateus, as for filmmakers in her personal pantheon, conflicts at hand stem inextricably from local and national history and also from oceanic depths of experience, too easily dismissed as folklore, from which individual identity and group identification emerge.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Though the serial killer in each installment of Scream is always revealed to be a different person, the phone voice has remained consistent since Jackson, now 65, took on the job back in 1996.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The person didn’t respond to further questions, and phone calls to two numbers associated with the email address went unanswered.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Appealing to consumers searching for a piece of history, the store has gained a following of visitors hunting for unique souvenirs, designers on inspiration trips and local eccentrics.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
  • For Mimi Pond, the desire to do a book about the Mitford sisters – six larger-than-life British eccentrics (and one brother) who created a stir in both British and American culture – was obvious.
    Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on character

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!