charm 1 of 2

Definition of charmnext
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as in amulet
something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil an old cap that I use as a charm for whenever I play softball

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in pendant
an ornament worn on a chain around the neck or wrist a dangling charm in the figure of a horse on her bracelet

Synonyms & Similar Words

charm

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word charm different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of charm are allure, attract, captivate, enchant, and fascinate. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

charmed by their hospitality
her performances captivated audiences

When could allure be used to replace charm?

Although the words allure and charm have much in common, allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

When can attract be used instead of charm?

The words attract and charm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

When might enchant be a better fit than charm?

While in some cases nearly identical to charm, enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

When would fascinate be a good substitute for charm?

The synonyms fascinate and charm are sometimes interchangeable, but fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

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 charm
Noun
Few places in Alaska so seamlessly blend Indigenous culture, dramatic scenery, and small-town charm. Josh Rivera, USA Today, 13 May 2026 For the farmhouse aficionados, the Summerville dresser packs charm and character into its slim build. Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 13 May 2026
Verb
So there's a very famous example of Fidel Castro inviting Ted Turner down to Cuba and charming him and then being on the program. Dana Taylor, USA Today, 13 May 2026 Anne seemed utterly charmed by the gesture, bending down to hold Vegas' front paws with a smile. Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for charm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charm
Noun
  • There’s an amulet (one of those glowing doohickeys the fate of the cosmos hangs on), and your heart may sink every time someone starts chattering about it.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 May 2026
  • Sharp objects like scissors and needles or amulets should be carried by pregnant women or placed near sleeping children to ward off her attacks.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
Noun
  • Still, very few modern pop stars are doing what Mars is doing in making seemingly timeless music with such broad appeal.
    Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
  • While clinics in Seoul and Dubai emphasize injectables and skin treatments, retreats like The Ranch appeal to celebrities who want a fuller reset — combining exercise, nutrition and recovery in a setting designed to feel removed from daily life.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • There was no hot water for several spells last winter.
    Anne Kadet, Curbed, 15 May 2026
  • Over the course of Obsession's 108-minute runtime, Nikki transforms into an self-destructive, possessive, and dangerously violent shadow of her former self as Bear's spell forces her to fixate solely on her unnatural devotion to him—no matter the cost.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • But the more intensive, multi-day sessions include instruction in how to make chef’s knives, bush knives, pendants, jewelry and more.
    Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 14 May 2026
  • The collection is 14 pieces altogether, and runs the gamut from petite side tables to minimalist pendants.
    Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • The fawn-like icon, star of classics including Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, Two for the Road, Charade, Funny Face, and My Fair Lady, continues to fascinate even 33 years after her early death from a rare abdominal cancer.
    Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
  • The idea of the ouroboros (a snake eating its tail) has always fascinated me.
    Peter Bogdanovich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • If bits are mere mortals, occupying space and time, qubits possess omnipresence and telepathy.
    Aldo Svaldi, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
  • The findings reveal that bats possess the intelligence to actively manipulate the physical properties of their acoustic environment to enhance perception, rather than just forcing the brain to work harder.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Ruing the absence of a talisman, an inspirational figure who can bend a game to their will.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 12 May 2026
  • In the dying days of the Russian Empire, highborn ladies would willingly cut the dirty fingernails of the peasant Grigori Rasputin and then sew the clippings onto their dresses like sacred talismans.
    Gerard DeGroot, Air Mail, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Looksmaxxers tend to believe that attractiveness can be scientifically measured, citing numbers and inspecting facial symmetry, completely ignoring cultural context, personal preferences and charisma.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
  • Even seemingly benign alterations for aesthetic reasons are prohibited, such as removing the photojournalist’s own shadow or evidence of their camera equipment, removing an unsightly wire or fencepost, or airbrushing someone’s facial features to increase attractiveness.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Charm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charm. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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