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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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
Look for both of these parks to show their true character as the weather warms. —Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 The 30-year-old actor’s longevity is clearly due to his willingness to fully commit to his characters, no matter how ridiculous. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 27 May 2025 The property that was used as her character Anna Coleman's home in the original movie sadly burned down during the natural disaster. —Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 27 May 2025 And, of course, with my character there wasn’t a lot there. —Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 27 May 2025 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 character is a powerful metaphor of oppressed women, challenging patriarchal norms, and has emerged as a symbol of female strength and resilience within the Indian horror genre.
    — Sunil Sadarangani, Deadline, 20 May 2025
  • The ski suit has evolved into a fashion symbol frequently mentioned in style publications.
    — Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 19 May 2025
Definition of symbol
Noun
  • To take her mind off him, Agathe meets an Austen-like family of eccentrics running the retreat and the sometimes pretentious writers attending it.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
  • But the settlers’ belief in the value of public goods and embrace of independent thinkers remain woven into the character of the city, which continues to attract artists, eccentrics and writers.
    — Isabelle Taft, New York Times, 4 May 2025
Definition of eccentric
Noun
  • To catch up on his late rent, Winston talks himself into a job at We Deliver, a transportation company with a colorful clientele whose requests can’t help but loosen one’s morality.
    — The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • With childhood increasingly recognized as a distinct stage of life and education in the later nineteenth century, school texts and children’s books were one way to suggest to children a certain sort of morality and social grounding.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 May 2025
Definition of morality
Noun
  • For a time, Central Connecticut lived up to its reputation as one of the top hitting teams in college baseball, but was ultimately outslugged by Auburn,shut down by NC State and ousted from the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025
  • With its reputation as a culinary destination solidified, the InterContinental Danang just opened another ambitious fine-dining restaurant, Tingara.
    — Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025
Definition of reputation
Noun
  • North York Moors National Park The low-growing vegetation characteristic of the Moors is gray-green, rust-brown, and even purple in places.
    — Mike Nolan, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
  • From engaging with the rich tradition of equestrian fashion to exploring the nuanced world of Kentucky bourbon and even discovering the unique characteristics of Icelandic horses, Shelby County offers visitors an enriching few days in the Blue Grass State.
    — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • This paves the way to embody a new identity anchored in aligned thoughts, habits, and actions.
    — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 May 2025
  • Okta shares are tumbling around 12% this morning after the identity security provider last night issued what appeared to be conservative guidance.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 May 2025
Definition of identity
Noun
  • Yifei Liu's Mulan weighs dishonoring her family vs. saving her father (Tzi Ma) and defending the country from invaders, and the tale is an eye-popping fantasy adventure about embracing one's self.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • Dominguez, seated next to Hutchinson at the defense table, watched intently as his videotaped self struggled to answer the detective’s questions.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of self
Noun
  • The fungal disease does not spread from person to person, according to the CDC.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Before Johnson and Eakins exchanged vows, Houser passed their wedding rings along the front row and asked that each person hold the rings and pray or give their blessings over them before passing them down to the next person in what's known as ring warming.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 22 May 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 3 Jun. 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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