SPELLS Synonyms: 149 Similar and Opposite Words

spells 1 of 2

noun

Definition of spells next

plural of spell

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

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as in bouts

a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder a dizzy spell that caused me to fall

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in whiles

an indefinite but usually short period of time come rest a spell

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spells

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spell

as in possesses

to cast a spell on it was as if he had spelled the public into believing his ridiculous claims

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blesses

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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of spells

Noun

Yes, the five first-years are all in the set as two-color uncommons with Prepared spells, serving a similar function to STX’s cycle with Zimone and Quintorius. —

Jennifer Maas, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026 Shelbayh is the first Jordanian player to hold an ATP ranking, and spent a year at the University of Florida between 2021 and 2022, either side of spells at the Rafael Nadal academy. —

Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026 As with its last two installments, FH6 respects Japan’s changing seasons, though their effect on the world is far more profound than in Forza Horizon 5‘s Mexico, which really only alternated between dry and wet spells. —

Adam Ismail, The Drive, 8 Apr. 2026 As humidity increases, patchy fog may also develop overnight and into the early mornings late in the week — another sign that Houston is moving away from spring’s fleeting cool spells and into a more persistently warm seasonal pattern. —

Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2026 Now, though, with the widespread circulation of magic manuals, grimoires, and related compendia—with the recording, on paper, of words, spells, histories, stories—witchcraft has taken an irreversible step into the exoteric realm. —

Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Wessels catches gleams to follow not only in magical tales but in twinkling memories, sparkling wordplay, the films of silver-screen star Veronica Lake, and his charm of a daughter, the inspiration of a half-dozen poems that take their titles from spells. —

Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026 In the future, the researchers would like to expose the embryos to longer microgravity spells to gain deeper insights into the processes taking place in space-like conditions. —

Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026 Dry spells are nothing new to ranchers, but this stretch already seems hotter, drier and longer than anyone can recall. —

Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Verb

Not everyone thinks this spells disaster, however. —

Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026 While the coffee chat isn’t new, Kessler said the return to meeting people and showing other signals spells the cover letter’s inevitable end. —

Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026 Like the midwives’ spells Pliny the Elder described, this ritual harnessed the belief that women’s bodies and voices were powerful and transformative. —

Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026 The character of Biff Dipper, an engineer, will be found in the ride’s preshow, familiarizing guests with the story of the asteroid that spells impending doom. —

Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026 While this movement spells good news for the economy and industry, traveling on Houston roadways can be a serious crash risk for the people on the road, including truck drivers. —

Wyles Daniel, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2026 Noah Eagle will fill in on the mic, while Ahmed Fareed spells Maria Taylor as NBC’s studio host. —

Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 Jan. 2026 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 That spells good news for HBO, since the network has already renewed A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for Season 2, which is set to premiere next year. —

Katie Campione, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spells

Noun

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
Justin, the believer, is instantly alarmed by how these eerie tapes escalate from cute banter to ghostly crying babies and backward incantations.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026