character 1 of 3

Definition of characternext
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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

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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

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character

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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

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word character different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of character are attribute, property, and quality. While all these words mean "an intelligible feature by which a thing may be identified," character applies to a peculiar and distinctive quality of a thing or a class.

remarks of an unseemly character

When might attribute be a better fit than character?

The words attribute and character can be used in similar contexts, but attribute implies a quality ascribed to a thing or a being.

the attributes of a military hero

When can property be used instead of character?

The synonyms property and character are sometimes interchangeable, but property implies a characteristic that belongs to a thing's essential nature and may be used to describe a type or species.

the property of not conducting heat

In what contexts can quality take the place of character?

The meanings of quality and character largely overlap; however, quality is a general term applicable to any trait or characteristic whether individual or generic.

material with a silky quality

How is the word character different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of character are attribute, property, and quality. While all these words mean "an intelligible feature by which a thing may be identified," character applies to a peculiar and distinctive quality of a thing or a class.

remarks of an unseemly character

When might attribute be a better fit than character?

The words attribute and character can be used in similar contexts, but attribute implies a quality ascribed to a thing or a being.

the attributes of a military hero

When can property be used instead of character?

The synonyms property and character are sometimes interchangeable, but property implies a characteristic that belongs to a thing's essential nature and may be used to describe a type or species.

the property of not conducting heat

In what contexts can quality take the place of character?

The meanings of quality and character largely overlap; however, quality is a general term applicable to any trait or characteristic whether individual or generic.

material with a silky quality

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
As for the cast, the players can only tease so much about the first campaign so far, but did give hints about their characters’ motivations. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026 Beef isn’t suggesting that any of its rich characters would want peace or even know what to do with it. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026 In Beef, her character carries on a secret text relationship with an ex. Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 And this character acts like a real a**hole in the story. Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
Noun
  • This is our opportunity to show our real selves and be together.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • This amazing, self-assembling, signal-processing, direction-switching molecular machine is so powerful yet so spare that, billions of years later, it’s still used by bacteria in virtually every gut and puddle on Earth.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Now it had been relegated again to a leftist cause, a symbol of anti-imperial resistance for some and the face of communism’s failings for others.
    Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Houseplant’s new Italian Collection includes pieces made and hand-painted in Deruta, all boasting that near-ubiquitous symbol of good luck and protection found on so many Italian pottery pieces—the rooster.
    Rachel Wallace, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Over the course of 10 years of activism, Maryam Shojaei has been arrested by Iran’s morality police, helped change FIFA policy, and watched her brother, Masoud, captain Iran’s national team.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Days ago, Vice President JD Vance urged the pope to stick to matters of morality.
    Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The thief may know about Kryptonite’s reputation of having locks that are tougher to defeat than an average bicycle lock, so the thief may look for an easier target, leaving your bike alone.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Over the course of his 30-year career in the entertainment business, Perry has built a reputation as a prolific TV and film producer and entrepreneur.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Asked about what caused Prospect to declare bankruptcy, Buckley said there are a number of unique characteristics in its situation, including private equity ownership, that affected its funding.
    Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Since many bags share the same characteristics (think a black, medium-sized, hard-shell suitcase, for example), listing any unique attributes will help.
    Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There was no immediate word on the identities of the perpetrator or the identify of the person who died.
    Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Fleur tells the story of a New York housewife (Berry) who flees America and her husband of 30 years (Csokas) to reinvent herself in Paris as Fleur, an upscale escort and dominatrix carving out her own power and identity.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Schools across the Emirates were shuttered for weeks after the war began, shifting students to remote learning, prompting some parents, who CNBC has spoken with since the war began, to send children back to their home countries to complete the academic term at schools teaching in-person.
    Emma Graham,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
  • There was no immediate word on the identities of the perpetrator or the identify of the person who died.
    Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The town’s overflowing with charming Midwest eccentrics, including a cocky mayor (Henry Winkler) and a welcoming barkeep (Lena Headey).
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Those crazy, diverse individuals, that tribe of oddballs and eccentrics, dreamers, and gamblers who make up this business.
    Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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