character 1 of 2

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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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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

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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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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 Drawing wigs, costume and props while on stage, Templin transforms herself, shifting from character to character in full view of the audience. Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for character
Recent Examples of Synonyms for character
Noun
  • At the heart of the story are four women vying for the crown in the annual prison beauty pageant, a symbol of dignity and transformation inside the bleak walls of confinement.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025
  • For Morris, the moon isn’t just a celestial body with a cratered, rocky surface, but a symbol of human vision and yearning.
    Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
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
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
Noun
  • After pushing him out, the Mavericks added insult to injury by casting a shadow over his reputation on the way out.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 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
Noun
  • Overall, the analyst is bullish on EPD stock and views it as a core master limited partnership holding, having both offensive and defensive characteristics.
    TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025
  • These are clones of individual grape varieties that have been bred to ensure certain characteristics, such as resistance to specific diseases.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The wolf has a big representation for Shakira’s identity.
    Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Parenthood reshapes every corner of your life — from your relationship, to your body, to your identity.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
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
Noun
  • Had Melanie Robinson survived, the 38-year-old mother would have been arrested on capital murder of a person under 10 years old in the death of her baby, Jonas Allen.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2025
  • More than 200 attendees in person and online showed up March 24 for the launch of the EndurANT Movement, founded by Encinitas residents Neal and Samara Tricarico one year after their 16-year-old son Anthony died by suicide.
    Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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