1
as in possessed
to cast a spell on
it was as if he had spelled the public into believing his ridiculous claims
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meant
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
that summertime combination of hot temperatures and equally hot tempers can spell trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spelled
And, just maybe, that can go at least a few inches toward explaining the enduring popularity of mah-jongg—also variably spelled mah jong, mahjong, mah jongg, and more, with our spelling taken from Merriam-Webster—one that spans continents and centuries.
—
Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
Nikhil Ganta spelled amaxophobia to win the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver.
—Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
According to media reports, Komarov — his first name spelled Igor — was the son of a wealthy Ukrainian businessman and was badly tortured by his kidnappers, who sought millions of dollars in ransom from his family.
—CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The Pirates’ signing of Ozuna spelled the end of McCutchen’s second act in Pittsburgh.
—Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Of course, by then our 47th president and his cronies will be long gone, but those who struggle to survive the violent disruption of climate change will curse the man whose mindless decision in 2026 spelled the end of a global attempt to save the planet.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
The contest’s winner, a Danish architect and recent Chicago transplant named Alfred Råvad (sometimes spelled Roewad), suggested the color scheme of white and red.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
It definitely shouldn’t be spelled like that.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 14 Jan. 2026
While the football world was full of speculation, wondering whether his disappearance into a red-light therapy airstream spelled the end of his career, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s summer was filled primarily with uncertainty.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
Nikhil Ganta spelled amaxophobia to win the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver.
—Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
According to media reports, Komarov — his first name spelled Igor — was the son of a wealthy Ukrainian businessman and was badly tortured by his kidnappers, who sought millions of dollars in ransom from his family.
—CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The Pirates’ signing of Ozuna spelled the end of McCutchen’s second act in Pittsburgh.
—Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Of course, by then our 47th president and his cronies will be long gone, but those who struggle to survive the violent disruption of climate change will curse the man whose mindless decision in 2026 spelled the end of a global attempt to save the planet.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
The contest’s winner, a Danish architect and recent Chicago transplant named Alfred Råvad (sometimes spelled Roewad), suggested the color scheme of white and red.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
It definitely shouldn’t be spelled like that.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 14 Jan. 2026
While the football world was full of speculation, wondering whether his disappearance into a red-light therapy airstream spelled the end of his career, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s summer was filled primarily with uncertainty.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spelled
Verb
-
In 2003, as the United States invaded Iraq over false claims that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, Khamenei issued a religious edict — a fatwa — declaring nuclear weapons to be forbidden under Islam.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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But the 26-year-old was the best of the quarterbacks who were available to the Dolphins, the talent that possessed the most upside.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This meant two-hour sessions at the gym, long runs, and horseback riding on the weekends.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
-
As Europe races toward energy independence, this facility could become a primary feeder for a pipeline network meant to power the continent’s heavy industry.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The most serious mid-air collision involving the plane happened in 1966, when a B-52 bomber carrying nuclear bombs struck a tanker near Palomares, Spain.—
Kim Tong-Hyung,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Beyond the visuals, Tan’s actual caption struck a reflective tone that stood out from the usual social media fare.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If an exclamation point only signified gore and grossness, this gothic rock opera would more than qualify.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Abel also used the letter to push back on any notion that the sizable cash position signified that Berkshire was retreating from investing.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Is there something tainted or cursed about this place?—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
-
That person is then cursed and slated for murder.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In cases where The Athletic shortened their comments or posed specific follow-up questions about a play, those transitions are denoted by ellipses.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Sneakers in the Alpha Project range were denoted by a five-dot logo placed inconspicuously throughout the design.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Irvi was enchanted and unnerved by Oaxaca’s clear blue skies, unmarred by skyscrapers.—
Caitlin Dickerson,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Along with the clear Bowie and Orbison inspiration, the album’s influences reflect the tastes of someone recently enchanted by the romance of California.—
Millan Verma,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Pentagon had accepted his compromise, Altman implied, because his safeguards were not smuggled into the contract as an arbitrary restriction of Pentagon freedom.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Several judges involved in the case implied ethics violations by her.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spelled. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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