character 1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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
Choose from any character in the game’s history while enjoying enhanced speed and new stages. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026 But despite her complex love for Effie, Banks' real-life advocacy couldn’t be more different from her character’s. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2026 His sister Janet Jackson not only didn’t attend the premiere, but her character is not present in the film. —Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026 The actress has made multiple nods to her Devil Wears Prada character throughout the film's press tour — including rocking Andy's signature bangs. —Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
  1. self
  2. symbol
  3. morality
  4. reputation
  5. characteristic
  6. identity
  7. person
  8. eccentric
Noun
  • This is our opportunity to show our real selves and be together.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • This amazing, self-assembling, signal-processing, direction-switching molecular machine is so powerful yet so spare that, billions of years later, it’s still used by bacteria in virtually every gut and puddle on Earth.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of self
Noun
  • Now it had been relegated again to a leftist cause, a symbol of anti-imperial resistance for some and the face of communism’s failings for others.
    — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Houseplant’s new Italian Collection includes pieces made and hand-painted in Deruta, all boasting that near-ubiquitous symbol of good luck and protection found on so many Italian pottery pieces—the rooster.
    — Rachel Wallace, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of symbol
Noun
  • Over the course of 10 years of activism, Maryam Shojaei has been arrested by Iran’s morality police, helped change FIFA policy, and watched her brother, Masoud, captain Iran’s national team.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Days ago, Vice President JD Vance urged the pope to stick to matters of morality.
    — Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of morality
Noun
  • Starting an expensive professional golf league was a roundabout way to launder the reputation of a violent autocrat.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Some have fresh, independent reputations, and their clips travel much further than a 20-minute grilling with a print reporter, or a TV station that won’t use the whole interview.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Definition of reputation
Noun
  • Asked about what caused Prospect to declare bankruptcy, Buckley said there are a number of unique characteristics in its situation, including private equity ownership, that affected its funding.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Since many bags share the same characteristics (think a black, medium-sized, hard-shell suitcase, for example), listing any unique attributes will help.
    — Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • There was no immediate word on the identities of the perpetrator or the identify of the person who died.
    — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Fleur tells the story of a New York housewife (Berry) who flees America and her husband of 30 years (Csokas) to reinvent herself in Paris as Fleur, an upscale escort and dominatrix carving out her own power and identity.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of identity
Noun
  • Schools across the Emirates were shuttered for weeks after the war began, shifting students to remote learning, prompting some parents, who CNBC has spoken with since the war began, to send children back to their home countries to complete the academic term at schools teaching in-person.
    — Emma Graham,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
  • There was no immediate word on the identities of the perpetrator or the identify of the person who died.
    — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of person
Noun
  • The town’s overflowing with charming Midwest eccentrics, including a cocky mayor (Henry Winkler) and a welcoming barkeep (Lena Headey).
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Those crazy, diverse individuals, that tribe of oddballs and eccentrics, dreamers, and gamblers who make up this business.
    — Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of eccentric

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.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

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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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