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

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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 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 Beit El’s other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry. Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phylactery
Noun
  • In what is now China, fish carved from jade were worn as amulets, hanging like pendants, as far back as 10,000 B.C. in the Neolithic Age, according to Carol Michaelson, a research curator in the British Museum’s Asia department.
    Melanie Abrams, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The amulet was found near the Tel Azka site, which has regularly yielded archaeological matter.
    Alex Greenberger for ARTNews, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The real Hong-rang climbed a hanok wall in an attempt to remove the talisman, but slipped and fell.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 16 May 2025
  • Initials and the brand’s Eye of the Tiger motif—a design with roots in Ottoman Empire and Eastern philosophy is a modern talisman for strength and vitality—motif can also be added to bags.
    Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Phylactery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phylactery. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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