character 1 of 2

noun

ˈker-ik-tər How to pronounce character (audio)
Definition of characternext
1
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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2
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
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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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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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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7
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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8
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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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

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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
The series’s expansion of the portrait of the prince’s other children is at first welcome, but this determination to better round out secondary characters soon becomes an enormous problem. —Anthony Paletta, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025 Alanna is definitely in the running for my favorite overhauled show character. —ArsTechnica, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
But Murthy said that no matter how many changes are made to character selection and rule sets, the Civilization series maintains a deeply colonialist worldview at its core. —Rollo Romig, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025 Even the red herrings wound up important to character development and/or plot points. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
  1. symbol
  2. eccentric
  3. morality
  4. reputation
  5. characteristic
  6. identity
  7. self
  8. person
Noun
  • The company said the dress code change will maintain the green apron's status as the symbol for Starbucks since they were introduced in 1987.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Women began appearing at anti-Trump protests wearing costumes inspired by the show—the handmaids’ long red cloaks and snow-white broad-brimmed bonnets serving as symbols of their political discontent.
    — Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of symbol
Noun
  • Robert Redford delivers folksy wisdom as a local eccentric who once had his own dragon encounter, and even Karl Urban’s greedy logger is more of a nuisance than an outright villain.
    — Josh Bell, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Attracting talent for greater innovation hazards acquiring a few eccentrics whose gifts come wrapped in controversial packaging.
    — Chip Bell, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of eccentric
Noun
  • Approval from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, much like the morality police, requires artists to master abstraction, ensuring their work remains powerful yet permissible.
    — Rebecca Ruth Gould, JSTOR Daily, 9 Apr. 2025
  • An anti-Disney morality tale seeks modern morality.
    — Armond White, National Review, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of morality
Noun
  • His reputation has been restored and reaffirmed at Villa, with a setup that enables him to concentrate on footballing matters and possess a level of oversight rarely seen among modern-day managers.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Tagovailoa is still trending upwards from a developmental standpoint, but needs to shed his fragile reputation.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of reputation
Noun
  • This is highly specific work that depends on each plantation's unique characteristics, including location, soil type, and coffee variety.
    — Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Both dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide, which are part of the same chemical group, have overlapping characteristics, which is why the results can’t definitively differentiate between the two molecules, but future observations might, the study authors said.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • The wolf has a big representation for Shakira’s identity.
    — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
  • This is particularly important because many everyday consumer transactions rely on mainframe technology, including most credit card purchases as well as other steps in financial transactions such as identity verification.
    — Melody Brue, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of identity
Noun
  • Christina Ricci is calling the fashion police on her younger self.
    — Lauren Huff, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Here, 19 Forbes Coaches Council members share strategies introverted leaders can use to effectively manage teams while remaining their authentic selves.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of self
Noun
  • Every person in the USA, not just citizens, has a right to due process.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Davis police on Monday continued their search for the person or people who shot and wounded three people in the city’s Community Park on Saturday sending UC Davis Picnic Day revelers scrambling from the chaos.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of person

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 22 Apr. 2025.

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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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