as in amulet
something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil he wore a small phylactery on a cord around his neck

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Recent Examples of phylactery Under the chin was the amulet, also known as a phylactery, likely worn around the person's neck. Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024 Under the chin was the amulet, also known as a phylactery, likely worn around the person's neck. Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024 Known as a phylactery, this type of amulet served as a kind of container to hold objects believed to be imbued with magical properties that were intended to protect the wearer. Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024 Popular images of Jewish men worshiping at the wall in prayer shawls and phylacteries show only a small stretch of the ancient retaining wall for the Temple Mount. David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2017 Beit El’s other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry. Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phylactery
Noun
  • During the Middle Bronze Age, scarabs were used as seals and amulets, as Daphna Ben-Tor, curator of Egyptian archaeology at the Israel Museum, says in the IAA statement.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The Egyptians thought the scarab symbolized the incarnation of God the Creator. Dr. Daphna Ben-Tor, who works with ancient amulets and seals, told the Israel Antiquities Authority that the seal scarabs were also used as amulets.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • And there is no sign of the domination wavering even though Rohit and talisman Virat Kohli might have played their last ODIs of their legendary careers.
    Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • The real Hong-rang climbed a hanok wall in an attempt to remove the talisman, but slipped and fell.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 16 May 2025

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“Phylactery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phylactery. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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