character 1 of 2

noun

ˈker-ik-tər How to pronounce character (audio)
Definition of characternext
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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
The new show, Uncanny Alley, features two actors who seamlessly bring multiple characters to life. — Charlie Fink, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 The 1995 film, inspired by Jane Austen’s novel Emma and starring Alicia Silverstone as lead character Cher and took $88million at the box office. — Caroline Frost, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
Even the red herrings wound up important to character development and/or plot points. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024 In a series of interwoven vignettes that roam from character to character, the fearless Nobel Prize–winning novelist Tokarczuk explores how folklore, ritual, and strife shape the minds of the inhabitants of a village appropriately called Primeval, over a long period starting in 1914. — Jeff Vandermeer, The Atlantic, 27 Sep. 2024 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 world’s richest man dominated the agenda of Trump’s first six weeks in office, literally wielding a chainsaw as a symbol for cutting government spending.
    — Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The harp is a great Irish symbol so it may be adopted widely in Ireland as soon as it’s released.
    — David Phelan, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of symbol
Noun
  • Rachel does a great job conveying such collective endeavors and group dreaming, the whole circumference of people who support bands: friends of friends, drop-of-a-hat designers, stopgap agents, stall owners, dealers, grandparents with record collections, eccentrics without portfolios.
    — Ian Penman, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Would love to know what these career eccentrics make of the pomp and pageantry of the Grammys.
    — August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2025
Definition of eccentric
Noun
  • There is the argument from morality: The gods will punish you for these bad deeds.
    — Shadi Bartsch, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The intimacy that Mundhra finds in the final few minutes of this film feel like a reward for a project taken on with a rigorous sense of morality. 29.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of morality
Noun
  • When the strikes made everything pretty quiet, Tango had built a reputation for having good taste, for being a good partner, and for liking risk.
    — Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Aside from the statistics, Hoffman created a reputation for getting into it with opposing players either verbally or physically after the play.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of reputation
Noun
  • These high-rye bourbons represent some of the best in the world, showcasing the bold and spicy characteristics that come with a higher rye content in the mash bill.
    — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The grapes used to make this wine are grown on a high altitude ridge, which causes the grapes to incorporate the mineral characteristics of the area, producing a bold and expressive wine with black fruit aromas and a mineral finish.
    — Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • This was a statement of identity, a declaration that Houston’s influence—whether in music, fashion, or culture at large—is undeniable.
    — Shelby Stewart, Essence, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The pressure to constantly evolve while maintaining a strong identity can feel like an emotional and professional burden.
    — Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of identity
Noun
  • Alex has to hold on with both hands in order to keep her preggo self in one spot, but we’re distracted from the terror by her voiceover of the fan fiction — er, journal to Spencer — that she’s been keeping.
    — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Heidi Klum is the face of self care brand PosheEra.
    — Mikelle Street, WWD, 19 Feb. 2025
Definition of self
Noun
  • Just one person out of 27 people on board the Western Reserve survived the harrowing 60-mile journey back to shore.
    — Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Every team has that one person everyone relies on for advice, project help, or problem-solving.
    — Sho Dewan, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of person

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Cite this Entry

“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/character. Accessed 20 Mar. 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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