as in amulet
something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil
he wore a small phylactery on a cord around his neck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 phylactery
Under the chin was the amulet, also known as a phylactery, likely worn around the person's neck.
—
Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
Known as a phylactery, this type of amulet served as a kind of container to hold objects believed to be imbued with magical properties that were intended to protect the wearer.
—Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Popular images of Jewish men worshiping at the wall in prayer shawls and phylacteries show only a small stretch of the ancient retaining wall for the Temple Mount.
—David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2017
Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
Known as a phylactery, this type of amulet served as a kind of container to hold objects believed to be imbued with magical properties that were intended to protect the wearer.
—Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Popular images of Jewish men worshiping at the wall in prayer shawls and phylacteries show only a small stretch of the ancient retaining wall for the Temple Mount.
—David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phylactery
Noun
-
There’s an amulet (one of those glowing doohickeys the fate of the cosmos hangs on), and your heart may sink every time someone starts chattering about it.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
6 May 2026
-
Sharp objects like scissors and needles or amulets should be carried by pregnant women or placed near sleeping children to ward off her attacks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
Dewsbury-Hall is their talisman.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
In the dying days of the Russian Empire, highborn ladies would willingly cut the dirty fingernails of the peasant Grigori Rasputin and then sew the clippings onto their dresses like sacred talismans.—
Gerard DeGroot,
Air Mail,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phylactery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phylactery. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
