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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 Such color variations are thought to be associated with camouflage, protection against parasites and ultraviolet radiation, and the effects of pleiotropic genes (genes that influence more than one, usually unrelated, physical trait or phenotype). — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026 The reverse-direction analysis did not find strong evidence that the perianal diseases examined causally drive sleep disorders or general sleep traits, though an association surfaced between anal fissures and sleep duration. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026 In practice, there were a range of depictions of these goddesses in ancient Greece—their number, their names, and their traits differ across sources. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 An outgoing mother may pass along genetic variants that make her child more likely to be outgoing too, but her daughter is not destined to share the trait. — Jessica Craig, Popular Science, 2 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
  • This characteristic can provide significant resistance to scratching and wear in demanding environments.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • His mentality, weathered by his upbringing, is perhaps his most defining characteristic.
    — Andrew Destin, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • Duarte’s writing features detailed prose and a moving storyline, encompassing grief, healing, and the losses borne by a Latinx family in the name of American patriotism.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Another endearing dining feature at the property is its honesty pantry containing drinks and snacks to go and a coffee station for early risers—guests can feel free to pad about any time of day or night.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of feature
Noun
  • Can a machine effortlessly extract your product’s key attributes, exact pricing, stock levels and shipping policies in less than a second?
    — Narendra Lakshmana Gowda, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Several young goalkeepers had been bought by Premier League clubs the previous summer, leaving Newcastle feeling there was a paucity of options, though Hornicek’s all-round attributes caught the attention of Ross Wilson, their sporting director.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of attribute
Noun
  • Researchers need to establish what remains in the purified water and whether those substances could affect drug quality or patient safety.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
  • As the pair chase show jumping immortality this weekend, those are the qualities that will be needed to make history.
    — Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of quality
Noun
  • There’s an assumption that the second half is Shakespeare’s, but scholars continue to quarrel over attribution.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The attribution of liability that the author references is but one example.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 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 18 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on trait

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trait

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