1
as in incantations
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 bouts
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 whiles
an indefinite but usually short period of time
come rest a spell
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in possesses
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 means
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
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Recent Examples of spells
Simon Johnson, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Did either of you struggle with any tongue-twister spells or names?
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
The archer is known to be a magical being that throws zingers, or in this case, spells, at those who frustrate their peace.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Their popularity spread through Europe until, in Victorian tradition, they were used to rouse women after fainting spells.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Ideally, cuttings should be taken just after roses drop their leaves in fall or immediately before the flower buds begin to break in late winter; however, cuttings can be taken any time in winter as long as gardens aren’t experiencing spells of extreme cold.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Jan. 2026
These perennial bulbs grow in zones 3-8, blooming in winter in the Lower South and often during warm spells in other zones in winter months.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
Economically, a less icy Arctic spells opportunity—new shipping routes and untapped fossil-fuel reserves.
—Brett Simpson, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025
Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026
The deal is a significant endorsement of Google’s AI capabilities, and likely spells bad news for competitor OpenAI.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
While a visit from Randy spells nothing but chaos, Flula Borg describes himself as the opposite.
—Tanya Melendez, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
That spells good news for Boise State redshirt junior quarterback Maddux Madsen, who often looks at his best when given time in the pocket.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 12 Dec. 2025
The birds have survived in hordes in the deserts, but civilization nearly always spells their doom.
—Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 23 Oct. 2025
And such prolific usage spells good things against the Panthers, who have struggled defending tight ends and running backs in the passing game this year.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
A lot of this occurs off-page, in contrast to the movie, which spells things out incredibly plainly.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Flacco represents an immediate upgrade at quarterback over Browning, and spells good news for fantasy football managers who have worried about the Bengals star wide receivers after a slow start to the season.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
The England midfielder’s new Spurs team-mate Dominic Solanke is the most recent to leave their part of west London and end up in the blue-and-white corner of the city’s north, albeit in his case via spells at Liverpool and Bournemouth spanning seven years.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Did either of you struggle with any tongue-twister spells or names?
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
The archer is known to be a magical being that throws zingers, or in this case, spells, at those who frustrate their peace.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Their popularity spread through Europe until, in Victorian tradition, they were used to rouse women after fainting spells.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Ideally, cuttings should be taken just after roses drop their leaves in fall or immediately before the flower buds begin to break in late winter; however, cuttings can be taken any time in winter as long as gardens aren’t experiencing spells of extreme cold.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Jan. 2026
These perennial bulbs grow in zones 3-8, blooming in winter in the Lower South and often during warm spells in other zones in winter months.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
Economically, a less icy Arctic spells opportunity—new shipping routes and untapped fossil-fuel reserves.
—Brett Simpson, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
The return of starting cornerbacks Jayden Bellamy and Antione Jackson and starting safeties Demari Henderson and Braeden Marshall spells good things for the secondary.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026
The deal is a significant endorsement of Google’s AI capabilities, and likely spells bad news for competitor OpenAI.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
While a visit from Randy spells nothing but chaos, Flula Borg describes himself as the opposite.
—Tanya Melendez, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
That spells good news for Boise State redshirt junior quarterback Maddux Madsen, who often looks at his best when given time in the pocket.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 12 Dec. 2025
The birds have survived in hordes in the deserts, but civilization nearly always spells their doom.
—Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 23 Oct. 2025
And such prolific usage spells good things against the Panthers, who have struggled defending tight ends and running backs in the passing game this year.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
A lot of this occurs off-page, in contrast to the movie, which spells things out incredibly plainly.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Flacco represents an immediate upgrade at quarterback over Browning, and spells good news for fantasy football managers who have worried about the Bengals star wide receivers after a slow start to the season.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spells
Noun
-
There’s a little bit of mystery with the spirits, incantations and rituals.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In the wild, hamsters dig burrows with deep tunnels and multiple entrances for protection and to sleep during bouts of torpor.—
Noel Kirkpatrick,
Treehugger,
20 Jan. 2026
-
While the novel’s narrative engine is the incredibly inappropriate age-gap relationship, the book’s most incisive commentary revolves around Waldo’s inability to stop online shopping during bouts of intense emotion.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
UCHealth’s decision to postpone surgeries whiles staff addressed the sterilization problem stands out from other hospitals that have found themselves in similar situations.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Greenland also possesses vast, largely untapped mineral reserves, including rare earths critical to advanced technology and military systems.—
Paul McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Maye, the Bo Nix of Beantown, is 3-6 lifetime when the opponent possesses the ball for 29 minutes or more.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That means ensuring your house stays at a comfortable temperature, while also considering warm-weather wardrobes.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Fetcherr serves as the strategic partner, working with C-suite executives to deliver solutions that meet the business' needs, whether that means maximizing market share, optimizing yield, or finding the right balance between revenue growth and operational efficiency.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In Jujutsu Kaisen, heroic jujutsu sorcerers wage war against demonic creatures called curses and the curse users, who wield jujutsu powers for evil.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
-
And as relief from one of the greatest curses imaginable – chronic pain – the neuro-key may offer pain modulation without the expense, side effects, and addiction risk of opioids and systemic drugs.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
However, that advice changed after recent attacks – including two in 2023, when a 10-year-old boy was dragged underwater by a dingo before his sister stepped in, and when a woman was attacked despite running into the surf to escape four dingoes.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
It was created with the help of Caribbean leaders after powerful gangs forced the closure of Haiti's main international airport and targeted key state infrastructure in a series of unprecedented attacks that eventually led former Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So, measles showing up in wastewater is a sign that infected people are shedding tiny bits of the virus through things like mucus, saliva and stool.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Jan. 2026
-
But later in life, Mom also became a therapist and was fully supportive of Maria’s work, often appearing in bits playing herself.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spells. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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