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
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Recent Examples of spell
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
In regions that are predicted to be warmer than average, spring may arrive earlier, which means gardeners should watch for faster drying soil, early growth spurts that may need extra care, and young plants that may be stressed during warm spells.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 27 Jan. 2026
Matt Craig, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Further flashbacks spell things out.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spell
Noun
During one especially frigid spell, the temperature outside the team’s small habitat fell to -111°F.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
In regions that are predicted to be warmer than average, spring may arrive earlier, which means gardeners should watch for faster drying soil, early growth spurts that may need extra care, and young plants that may be stressed during warm spells.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Over time, the event has grown into the Camp Flog Gnaw Festival (its name spells Golf Wang in reverse), which sold out Dodger Stadium for two consecutive days in 2025.
—Matt Craig, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Further flashbacks spell things out.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spell
Noun
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In the preview, it was mentioned that Leon has something called the Umbrella curse.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
-
In the 2002 comedy, McAdams plays a catty teen who's turned into, yep, Saturday Night Live alum Schneider, via a curse.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the late 1950s, a psychoanalyst named Elliott Jaques was the first to argue that people in their mid-thirties, primarily men, could experience a yearslong bout of depression brought on by the realization of one’s own mortality.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
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One of those arrests occurred less than two weeks before his bout against Hector Luis Garcia.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bettmann Archive Mechanized agriculture has been around for a while.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The Memphis area is not expected to get above freezing temperatures for multiple days, so the snow on the ground might hang around for a while.—
Brooke Muckerman,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Again, the intention behind his decision to flip the puck deep and go for a change was impeccable, but there was another option there that might have allowed the Canadiens to possess the puck a bit longer.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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And doing so requires the resources, technology and expertise that many institutions do not possess.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This isn’t a place designed to impress from afar; it’s meant to be felt and experienced.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Google says the new setup is meant to reduce tab overload and interruptions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Fireflies blipped and burned out, and the cicadas joined in an incantation that crescendoed into an ancient whirr.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Dec. 2025
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When paired with the Grimmerie translation key available on the film's Universal site, the spell is revealed to be an incantation for soothing and mending pain and fear.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
His June assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities had two carrier groups in the region, more there as a counter-weight to any Iranian reprisals than to be directly involved in the attack.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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Senegal -- The Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility on Friday for an attack on an air force base in Niger's capital that wounded four soldiers and damaged an aircraft.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
David Bowie personally appears on the cover of 24 of his solo albums, depicting himself as a bowl-cut heartthrob, an androgynous blond, a space alien in human disguise, a cigarette-smoking lounge creature, a sideways pair of legs, and an oddly undersized boxer.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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Whether commuting for work or running errands, Dana is a carryall with ample space for essentials (think phone, keys, wallet, and sunglasses), along with a 13-inch laptop, water bottle, makeup, portable charger, lightweight jacket, snacks, and a notebook.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spell. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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