character 1 of 2

noun

ˈker-ik-tər How to pronounce character (audio)
Definition of characternext
1
as in self
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others the basic character of the work requires that an employee be able to work quietly and independently

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2
as in symbol
a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader the pictorial characters of the ancient Egyptians had long been a mystery

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3
as in morality
conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong we need more people of sound character in public office

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in reputation
overall quality as seen or judged by people in general the general character of the business appears to be good

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in characteristic
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind one of the distinguishing characters of mammals

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6
as in identity
the set of qualities that make a person different from other people she regards each of her children as having a distinctive character that should be valued for what it is

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in person
a member of the human race you wouldn't believe what kind of characters hang around the bus station

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits the junk dealer is certainly a character, but he's as honest as they come

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

character

2 of 2

verb

as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group formerly charactered as "the dark ages," that period of history may not have been quite so benighted as once thought

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word character different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of character are attribute, property, and quality. While all these words mean "an intelligible feature by which a thing may be identified," character applies to a peculiar and distinctive quality of a thing or a class.

remarks of an unseemly character

When might attribute be a better fit than character?

The words attribute and character can be used in similar contexts, but attribute implies a quality ascribed to a thing or a being.

the attributes of a military hero

When can property be used instead of character?

The synonyms property and character are sometimes interchangeable, but property implies a characteristic that belongs to a thing's essential nature and may be used to describe a type or species.

the property of not conducting heat

In what contexts can quality take the place of character?

The meanings of quality and character largely overlap; however, quality is a general term applicable to any trait or characteristic whether individual or generic.

material with a silky quality

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 character
Noun
Disneyland promises to share more details about Galaxy’s Edge character interactions before the April timeline reset. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026 None of the characters in It Was Just an Accident could be said to have any real power, because none of them has any control over reality. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026 Grit in a movie character depends on good acting. —Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026 As an actor, Bialik is also known for playing the title role in the ’90s sitcom Blossom, as well as for her role as a younger version of Bette Midler’s character in the 1988 film Beaches, among other projects. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
  1. self
  2. symbol
  3. morality
  4. reputation
  5. characteristic
  6. identity
  7. person
  8. eccentric
Noun
  • And indeed, in-between the shiny sales pitches came little glimpses of self-own.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
  • DeepMind’s AlphaGo, which defeated the world’s Go champion in 2016, had learned the game over thousands of iterations of self-play.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of self
Noun
  • According to the news release, there is a design gradient on the livery that’s a repeat of a Cadillac chevron, giving a nod to General Motors’ co-ownership and Cadillac’s symbol.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Since the 1970s, Toñitas has become a symbol of resistance amid growing gentrification in the neighborhood, where businesses owned by people of color have been shuttered and longtime Williamsburg residents pushed out by exorbitant rent hikes.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of symbol
Noun
  • Amanda Askell's job is to try to teach Claude a sense of morality, or how to be good.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The philosopher Aristotle wrote tomes on morality and human behavior.
    — Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of morality
Noun
  • In 2020, Hubbard sued several student activists for defamation, accusing them of damaging his academic reputation and mental wellbeing in their campaign for his removal from campus.
    — Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The Basque Country's culinary reputation means places like San Sebastián filled early, but nearby alternatives like Vitoria still have scattered availability.
    — Ryan Craggs, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of reputation
Noun
  • In vacating the life prison term in 2024, Cook County Judge Marc Martin found in part that Modrowski had been unfairly portrayed as emotionless and cold during his 1995 trial and sentencing proceedings when the characteristics were likely due to his autism.
    — Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • And what physical characteristics is law enforcement focusing on that might help people locate them?
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • That begins with limiting visibility, then challenging language and identity, followed by removing symbols.
    — Michael Collins, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The school’s superintendent, Ken Floyd, said the shooter had been identified, but the identity would not be released at this time, reported the Associated Press.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of identity
Noun
  • Don’t accept an argument from an authority because that person is an authority.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of person
Noun
  • Catherine O’Hara portrayed ridiculous eccentrics with equal parts hilarity and humanity.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Greg Brown, the original guitarist and co-founding member of ’90s alt-rock eccentrics Cake, has died.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of eccentric

Phrases Containing character

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char
character
character assassination
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Cite this Entry

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on character

Nglish: Translation of character for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about character

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