as in spells
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power
hovering over the sick child, the witch doctor muttered mysterious incantations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 incantations
As prospective farmers struggled to clear forests for rice fields in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Malaya, their efforts might have been accompanied by mystical incantations like this invocation against Iblis, the Devil in Islamic tradition.
—
H.m.a. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2026
Where ancient midwives had summoned divine assistance by uttering incantations, medieval maternity caregivers called upon saintly mothers by reciting rhythmical charms.
—
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Justin, the believer, is instantly alarmed by how these eerie tapes escalate from cute banter to ghostly crying babies and backward incantations.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
There’s a little bit of mystery with the spirits, incantations and rituals.
—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Aug. 2025
Magic, the process of changing reality to your will through incantations, is done in this realm.
—
Helen A. Berger,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2023
H.m.a. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2026
Where ancient midwives had summoned divine assistance by uttering incantations, medieval maternity caregivers called upon saintly mothers by reciting rhythmical charms.
—
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Justin, the believer, is instantly alarmed by how these eerie tapes escalate from cute banter to ghostly crying babies and backward incantations.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
There’s a little bit of mystery with the spirits, incantations and rituals.
—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Aug. 2025
Magic, the process of changing reality to your will through incantations, is done in this realm.
—
Helen A. Berger,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incantations
Noun
-
The former midfielder has had spells at Pisa, Milan and Napoli, in addition to Sion, Palermo, OFI, Valencia, Marseille and Hajduk Split across 13 years in management.
-
Summer drownings are an annual problem that health authorities say worsens during hot spells.
Noun
-
Why the invocations of Tubman, the readings of Du Bois, the visits from Hamer?
-
After a while, though, all the professions of sincerity and thanks, the constant invocations of the one true POTUS, and the worshipful exhibits upstairs give the whole place a cultish, nostalgic gleam.
Noun
-
Morgan and her Judgment Day cronies tried to bribe Danhausen to put curses on their opponents.
-
In baseball, curses are no joking matter, and the Curse of the FTD Burger might now have befallen the team.
Cite this Entry
“Incantations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incantations. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
