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
Pieces range from ribbed jersey T-shirts, tanks, polo shirts and dresses treated with burnout devore to trompe-l’œil lace lingerie and accessories including denim baseball hats and charm keychains. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 27 May 2026 The goal was to create a home with the charm of an old-world retreat while upgrading it for modern expectations, including redundant internet access, a backup generator and advanced surveillance. David Caraccio may 27, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
Verb
The right idea needs more than charm to hold up. Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2026 Roth was free to charm, wink, and flash that high-wattage grin, while the singers amplified the old Halen harmonies. Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 25 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
  • Garrincha’s appeal transcended the bounds of the pitch.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • Safe transparency and being open—not perfect—builds trust, credibility and lasting appeal.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Runner-up Ishaan Gupta, 12, put up an impressive 25 words in the spell-off.
    Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 29 May 2026
  • Harini Logan won the first spell-off, in 2022, by spelling 22 words in 90 seconds.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • The pendants have since ceased production following Meta's acquisition, though the company promised to support existing users for a year following the acquisition.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 31 May 2026
  • Every day, visitors arrive to dress in robes richly embroidered with phoenixes and adorn themselves with jade and pearl pendants and gold fingernail guards like those worn in imperial China.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • The combined disgust, discomfort, ignorance, and fascination with our Indigeneity that unsettled my aunties and fascinated my cousins made more sense to me.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
  • While the remote learning time during the COVID pandemic was challenging for many students, Ashlyn Duran used it to learn more about a subject that fascinated her.
    Amy Stark Shireman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Those who possess a basic awareness of Irish history will grasp the tragedy of Tomás’s desperate optimism.
    Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
  • Fertitta possesses various options, including asset sales or real estate monetization, to manage potential debt concerns.
    Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • There are few players in world football better suited to the Wirtz role than Cole Palmer, even if Chelsea’s talisman has struggled to find his best form this season.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 17 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
  • Decades later, research continues to find that attractiveness influences hiring decisions, salaries, legal outcomes, and perceptions of competence.
    Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
  • Savvy European governments and businesses should be able to find ways to support the domestic economic interests of Gulf countries, while also demonstrating the attractiveness of investment opportunities on their own continent.
    Dr. Robert Mogielnicki, semafor.com, 19 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Charm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charm. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

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