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Definition of chargenext
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as in expense
a payment made in the course of achieving a result the charges mounted at a dizzying pace as the building project went way over budget

Synonyms & Similar Words

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charge

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verb

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as in to ask
to set or receive as a price any shop would charge $100 to repair that thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to task
to give a task, duty, or responsibility to we're charging you with the care of your little sister while we're gone for the evening

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb charge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of charge are bid, command, direct, enjoin, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

When is bid a more appropriate choice than charge?

While in some cases nearly identical to charge, bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of charge?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

How do direct and instruct relate to one another, in the sense of charge?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls
the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

When would enjoin be a good substitute for charge?

The meanings of enjoin and charge largely overlap; however, enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

In what contexts can order take the place of charge?

The synonyms order and charge are sometimes interchangeable, but order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

How does the verb charge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of charge are bid, command, direct, enjoin, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

When is bid a more appropriate choice than charge?

While in some cases nearly identical to charge, bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of charge?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

How do direct and instruct relate to one another, in the sense of charge?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls
the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

When would enjoin be a good substitute for charge?

The meanings of enjoin and charge largely overlap; however, enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

In what contexts can order take the place of charge?

The synonyms order and charge are sometimes interchangeable, but order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

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 charge
Noun
Jack Ying Lee, the company’s operations manager, also faces second-degree murder charges, along with Sam Machado, a former Yolo County Sheriff’s deputy who owned the property where the fireworks were stored. Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026 With seven color options, our Magnet Grey with Arras Red interior were both included at no extra charge. Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
For example, the data showed one firm charged the city $627 for a lawyer said to have worked 571 hours one day, an entry that made little sense but was not costly for the city. Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026 Right-hander Sam Bachman retired the first two hitters before giving up a ground ball through the left side, knocking in the second run charged to Ureña. Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for charge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charge
Noun
  • During a federal raid on Loloee’s stores and homes in October 2023, agents found phony Social Security cards for 298 Viva Supermarket employees, the indictment said.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Prior to that time, a conservative who dared toss the dirty indictment at his or her opponent would face disapproval from all directions, and, of course, condemnation from the legacy media.
    Bob Ehrlich, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Williams said that the new results can help inform the experimental design for these future missions.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 21 Apr. 2026
  • If the company’s new partnership with Steppenwolf can advance this mission even further, then the years ahead are looking bright.
    Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The team also gave Luna a series of initial instructions, including pre-launch priorities like hiring an employee to run the store’s day-to-day operations, deciding what the store should sell and ordering inventory.
    David Ingram, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Instead, what the court addressed was a single jury instruction, charting several paths forward — including fixing that instruction and trying the case again.
    Alex Crippen, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • With the Moon in your 10th House squaring Mars in your 7th, expectations can clash if roles or responsibilities aren’t clear.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2026
  • There is no question about his attitude or application; this is not a case of a player who has shirked responsibility or failed to work hard enough in training or in matches.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There are also other artists, like Patricia Frischer, who has been doing a series of images about the #MeToo movement and women’s rights, which are also under attack at the moment.
    Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Cooper said that no US ships have come under attack since the operation began, and as of Friday there had been 19 vessels that had attempted to violate the blockade but heeded US warnings and returned back to port without incident.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But there are concerns about rising ticket prices and soaring production budgets, fueled by higher costs for labor, materials and energy.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • The group announced the new mutual aid market on social media, citing community concerns over rising costs as the motivation behind the move.
    Christa Swanson, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Fed officials are not entitled to the same special deference in their stewardship of public monies…or in bank regulatory and supervisory policy…or in areas affecting international finance, among other matters.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Instead, the Big East flourished under Ackerman’s disciplined stewardship.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Like its tech peers, Meta is grappling with growing memory expenses and supply chain shortages stemming from the artificial intelligence boom.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The proposal has ignited a partisan showdown, with Democrats arguing the military boost comes at the expense of healthcare and social safety nets, while Republicans defend it as necessary for national security.
    Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Charge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/charge. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

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