as in spells
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power
hovering over the sick child, the witch doctor muttered mysterious incantations
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of incantations
Circe is able, by means of drugs and incantations, to change humans into wolves, lions, and other animals.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 July 2026
As prospective farmers struggled to clear forests for rice fields in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Malaya, their efforts might have been accompanied by mystical incantations like this invocation against Iblis, the Devil in Islamic tradition.
—
H.m.a. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2026
Where ancient midwives had summoned divine assistance by uttering incantations, medieval maternity caregivers called upon saintly mothers by reciting rhythmical charms.
—
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Justin, the believer, is instantly alarmed by how these eerie tapes escalate from cute banter to ghostly crying babies and backward incantations.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
There’s a little bit of mystery with the spirits, incantations and rituals.
—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Aug. 2025
Magic, the process of changing reality to your will through incantations, is done in this realm.
—
Helen A. Berger,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2023
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 July 2026
As prospective farmers struggled to clear forests for rice fields in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Malaya, their efforts might have been accompanied by mystical incantations like this invocation against Iblis, the Devil in Islamic tradition.
—
H.m.a. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2026
Where ancient midwives had summoned divine assistance by uttering incantations, medieval maternity caregivers called upon saintly mothers by reciting rhythmical charms.
—
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Justin, the believer, is instantly alarmed by how these eerie tapes escalate from cute banter to ghostly crying babies and backward incantations.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
There’s a little bit of mystery with the spirits, incantations and rituals.
—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Aug. 2025
Magic, the process of changing reality to your will through incantations, is done in this realm.
—
Helen A. Berger,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incantations
Noun
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This is where the sorcerer’s book of spells resurfaces; James and Henry succeed in summoning a playful demon, Goomi (Trey Parker), a kind of Funko Pop!
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Morocco, meanwhile, played really well in spells throughout the group stage but would often fail to really capitalize on its dominance.
Noun
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Why the invocations of Tubman, the readings of Du Bois, the visits from Hamer?
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After a while, though, all the professions of sincerity and thanks, the constant invocations of the one true POTUS, and the worshipful exhibits upstairs give the whole place a cultish, nostalgic gleam.
Noun
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Morgan and her Judgment Day cronies tried to bribe Danhausen to put curses on their opponents.
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In baseball, curses are no joking matter, and the Curse of the FTD Burger might now have befallen the team.
Cite this Entry
“Incantations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incantations. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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