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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spell
ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Thanks to cask beer manager Mason Swierenga, Wren’s pours are known for soft carbonation, live yeast, plush mouthfeel, and a slow pour that builds its own head—under the cask’s spell, hops and malts show different faces.
—Chris Malloy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Will this spell the end for Sheldon Keefe?
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spell
Noun
Coach Ralf Rangnick took over in 2022 after spells with Manchester United, Hoffenheim, Schalke and Stuttgart and Leipzig.
—ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Thanks to cask beer manager Mason Swierenga, Wren’s pours are known for soft carbonation, live yeast, plush mouthfeel, and a slow pour that builds its own head—under the cask’s spell, hops and malts show different faces.
—Chris Malloy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
Not familiar with peri peri chicken (often spelled piri piri)?
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Will this spell the end for Sheldon Keefe?
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spell
Noun
-
Tens of millions of downloads deep, among discussions regarding ongoing bear curses and the quiet art of being a decent person, Drew Barrymore has asked about boogers and Jane Fonda has asked about hope.—
Brittany Delay,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Your precision is a gift, not a curse.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The practice has often come under fire for destabilizing markets and accelerating sharp sell-offs during bouts of extreme volatility and pushing vulnerable companies into distress.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The narrator in Pseudo-Quintilian’s fiction complains of the unfairness of the bout.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Derek previously told Fox News why the pair took a while to wed.—
Sophie Dodd,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Smoke may still be visible for a while as heavy equipment crews move debris, Hunt said.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For now, both appear to have the edge over Gil, as Weathers and Warren possess more competitive stuff.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
As the architect of this operational machine, Cook possessed the unique authority and insight required to overhaul it.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lajos’s transparent skin, initially so intriguing, does not end up mattering or meaning anything.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Parker Posey isn’t meant to live an uncomfortable life.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Where ancient midwives had summoned divine assistance by uttering incantations, medieval maternity caregivers called upon saintly mothers by reciting rhythmical charms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There are also other artists, like Patricia Frischer, who has been doing a series of images about the #MeToo movement and women’s rights, which are also under attack at the moment.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Cooper said that no US ships have come under attack since the operation began, and as of Friday there had been 19 vessels that had attempted to violate the blockade but heeded US warnings and returned back to port without incident.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
By combining the material with airy grasses and perennials, Grace has designed a soft-looking, drought-tolerant space that's also easygoing.—
Elizabeth Jardina,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2026
-
On many systems, deleting them merely removes their addresses from a registry, freeing the space to be overwritten.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spell. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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