as in characteristics
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind
honesty is one of her defining traits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 traits
Instilling those traits through hard coaching doesn’t connect directly to how players respond to injuries or how those injuries are treated by training and medical staffs.
—
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Simmons is an intriguing player with a strong draft pedigree and unusual traits.
—Mike Kaye
march 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
This data can be handy for profiling a single PC's traits, to be sure.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
These traits might tell you the jeans are not super durable and will lose their shape quickly.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2026
The President and the explorer share a few traits, including a surfeit of self confidence.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
This is one of the reasons why even the most miniscule amount of chametz is forbidden — for these negative traits must be completely nullified.
—Rabbi Moishe Kievman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Both possess the traits needed to run McMillan's system.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 23 Mar. 2026
Everybody’s got different traits.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Simmons is an intriguing player with a strong draft pedigree and unusual traits.
—Mike Kaye
march 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
This data can be handy for profiling a single PC's traits, to be sure.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
These traits might tell you the jeans are not super durable and will lose their shape quickly.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2026
The President and the explorer share a few traits, including a surfeit of self confidence.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
This is one of the reasons why even the most miniscule amount of chametz is forbidden — for these negative traits must be completely nullified.
—Rabbi Moishe Kievman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Both possess the traits needed to run McMillan's system.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 23 Mar. 2026
Everybody’s got different traits.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traits
Noun
-
Riboua argued that the Guards’ ideology can be mainly characterized by a pragmatism with hardliner characteristics.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The interactive Olaf can speak and engage in conversations, and his mannerisms and characteristics are spot on.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Singapore Sling and the Million Dollar Cocktail are sisters who share the same DNA and many of the same qualities but possess quite different temperaments and have gone on to enjoy different lives.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Its output has become increasingly nuanced and creative over the years, however, displaying elements of conventionally human qualities like metaphor, satire and social commentary.—
Stephy Chung,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our dynamic modern life demands similar attributes in our clothes.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Those attributes have led Bank of America analysts to adopt a constructive outlook on CoreWeave over the medium and longer terms.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Xbox's most helpful features, such as Quick Resume, will work as expected when games are launched from the card.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The moon will be roughly the size of a basketball in the view of the astronauts, who will examine its surface for color, lighting, rock types and other features.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Political discussions on social media are often dominated by competing attributions of more and more insidious motives to people on the other side.—
Mark Schroeder,
The Conversation,
20 Feb. 2026
-
This post was corrected on 21 January 2021 to clarify attributions.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
12 Jan. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Traits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traits. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
