1
as in curse
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power
the witch cast a spell that turned the prince into a toad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in bout
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder
a dizzy spell that caused me to fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in while
an indefinite but usually short period of time
come rest a spell
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to possess
to cast a spell on
it was as if he had spelled the public into believing his ridiculous claims
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to mean
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
that summertime combination of hot temperatures and equally hot tempers can spell trouble
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spell
Simon Johnson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The medical treatment, combined with the group's spell-casting, conjures up a remedy for her injuries.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
United Nations officials warn that if the conflict is not resolved soon, the consequences spell political and economic instability worldwide.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spell
Noun
Derry is the son of Shaun Derry, who made over 600 appearances in English football including Premier League spells at Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The medical treatment, combined with the group's spell-casting, conjures up a remedy for her injuries.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Verb
Mistakes spelled doom for the Storm.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
United Nations officials warn that if the conflict is not resolved soon, the consequences spell political and economic instability worldwide.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spell
Noun
-
As the moon meets Pluto, ultimate creative freedom can be a curse.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Baseball has always been a sport that believes in the occult — in juju and curses and superstitions.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Many investors showed up for the duo’s famous Q&A sessions that covered the business, but often included bouts of comedy.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
-
After a long-term deal with Disney for pay-per-view events expired, UFC bouts shifted to Paramount+, available to all subscribers without an extra fee.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Democrats have been on board for a while.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
-
For a while, Porter was one of four women among the major candidates running for governor.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Lori had Chad evaluate her children's spirits to determine if they were possessed by demons.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Veltman does not, however, possess the same energy levels and ability to get up and down the pitch in support of the attack to suit Hurzeler’s style of intensity like the other three full-back options.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Milan’s defeat on Sunday lunchtime meant Inter could clinch the Scudetto with a draw against Parma.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
Interestingly enough, his rise as a baseball player meant making the ultimate personal sacrifice.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
In that loud and sultry enclosure, the aspirants lined up and repeated the same information, over and over, like an incantation to open a magic door.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In recent years, a litany of violent, seemingly unprovoked attacks across Metro led to the deaths or severe injury of several passengers—a confirmation of Angelenos’ worst fears about the system.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
According to the Qataris, two Iranian ballistic missiles and three drone attacks led to the injury of three people in the Gulf nation.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The chef Eric Ripert and his partner, Maguy Le Coze, understand that space and time are as much luxuries as the commitment to craft and decades of dedication that give each plate here a consummate gleam.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Each of the treatment rooms is named for a different flower or herb, and inside, that specific fragrance fills the space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spell. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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