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trait

noun

ˈtrāt How to pronounce trait (audio)
Definition of traitnext
as in characteristic
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind honesty is one of her defining traits

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 trait Time is allotted to various family members, but none of them are fleshed out beyond a single character trait. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026 This process of tweaking genes to establish new traits is thought to have catalyzed evolutionary novelty in animals. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026 In Korea, beauty is as much an internal trait as an external one. — Anna Haines, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026 Other research into how likely an employer is to allow remote and hybrid work arrangements after the pandemic has focused on executives’ traits, such as their age and personalities. — Sebastian Fixson, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trait
  1. characteristic
  2. feature
  3. attribute
  4. quality
  5. attribution
Noun
  • Also, its rolling olive oil cart, replete with its own menu describing the oils’ characteristics and origins, allows passengers to sample many.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The design is part of Kairos Power’s approach to developing advanced reactors with different safety characteristics from traditional nuclear plants.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • De Jong plans to redevelop the building with 25 housing units, in a mix of studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms, alongside resident amenities and a commercial space on the first floor, plans show, while restoring historic features.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Such thoughtful considerations are also evident with the 16-way adjustable seats in the front, complete with their own climate control and massage features.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of feature
Noun
  • But a president whose public attention shows no discipline, discernment, or patience isn’t going to discover those attributes at the necessary scale when the cameras turn away.
    — John Dickerson, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Under the new agreement, Google will receive environmental attribute certificates (EACs) from a portion (up to 91,000 metric tons) of the steel produced in Stegra’s first year of production.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of attribute
Noun
  • Commercial proving ground with regulatory progress The material has precise chemical qualities that are critical for nuclear operations.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The Spritz, like most Aperol drinks, lean heavily into its summery qualities and try to hide the bitterness under the rug.
    — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of quality
Noun
  • Yet many appeared eager to take Feldstein’s shifting attributions at face value.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Miller claims that the new proof hinges heavily on his prior work and that Astra did not give that work adequate attribution.
    — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of attribution

Browse Nearby Words

traipsing
trait
traitor
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Cite this Entry

“Trait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trait. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on trait

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trait

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