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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Relevance

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

The strike was a culmination of a dominant first 30 minutes from Summit FC, which held long, commanding spells of possession to set the tone. —

Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026 Hilarious Leprechaun Jokes What kind of spells do leprechauns use? —

Nicole Harris, Parents, 16 Mar. 2026 After loan spells at Besiktas and Union Berlin, Newcastle United signed him as a backup on a free transfer. —

Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026 The alteration was discovered in a copy of the Book of the Dead (a tome filled with spells meant to aid the dead in their passage to the afterlife) that is believed to have been commissioned for a royal archive supervisor named Rambose. —

News Desk, Artforum, 9 Mar. 2026 Davis played through foul trouble, too, sitting for spells after collecting four infractions. —

Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026 She was often frustrated by spending long spells on hold with insurance agents, and was overwhelmed by the complexity of the plans. —

Jenisha Watts, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026 But Aubameyang, who made his name with prolific spells at Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal, had the last word as Stade Velodrome erupted in joy and disbelief. —

ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026 Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The strategic trading card game Magic, which was created in 1993, typically features two players going head-to-head using custom decks of collectible cards to cast spells, unleash creatures or use artifacts to defeat their opponent. —

Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2026

Verb

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 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

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