charisma
noun
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The Greek word charisma means "favor" or "gift." It comes from the verb charizesthai ("to favor"), which in turn comes from the noun charis, meaning "grace." In English, charisma was originally used in Christian contexts to refer to a gift or power bestowed upon an individual by the Holy Spirit for the good of the Church—a sense that is now very rare. These days, we use the word to refer to social, rather than divine, grace. For instance, a leader with charisma may easily gain popular support, and a job applicant with charisma may shine in an interview.
Examples of charisma in a Sentence
Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Joy Randolph and John Early, as the two Afterlife Coordinators, have a quibbling charisma, but the movie should have done more with all its possible versions of paradise, figuring out how to use them comedically instead of just as easy punchlines.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
On the other hand, Will — played with a jagged sensitivity by Paul Mescal, making the most of his sad-eyed charisma and physical presence — is a guy who feels more at home at a desk, with only a candle to light his way through the treacherous creative process.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
But beyond that, Apatow has surrounded her mom with two of the brightest rising stars in the business, Andrew Barth Feldman and Cooper Hoffman, who are both balls of bundled charisma that bounce off each other perfectly here.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for charisma
Cite this Entry
“Charisma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/charisma. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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charisma
noun
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