characters 1 of 2

plural of character
1
as in symbols
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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Relevance
2
3
4
5
as in identities
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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characters

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of character
as in characterizes
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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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 characters
Noun
The need for characters like this to maintain and strengthen bonds between what happens on the pitch, in the stands, online and everywhere in between cannot be overstated. Art De Roché, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026 Stewart and Shawkat have a fun and amiable vibe together, even if their characters aren’t immediately in focus. Katie Walsh, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 Dickens pops up in the minds of various characters; while describing his work and the festival, Scott telegraphs her warm feelings about literature. Keziah Weir, Vanity Fair, 13 Aug. 2026 Each doughnut is topped with pieces resembling their corresponding characters. Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026 For the Moon is Éric Baudelaire’s improvisatory collaboration with kids at the National Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, while Dan Sallitt’s What Can’t Be Mentioned catches up with characters from Sallitt’s acclaimed The Unspeakable Act. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 Hampshire has been cast as Vanessa and Priyanka has been cast as Tarek, characters in Reid’s third novel in the series, Tough Guy. Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 Stajmiger spends time in the makeup chair before slipping into Beetlejuice's signature costume, completing the transformation from actor to one of Broadway's most recognizable characters. Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026 The series’ pilot, co-written by show creators Ellis and Ryan Murphy, does an admirable job of introducing the characters and their fraught dynamics along with the threat of a murderer known only as the Trawler. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
Jon Favreau tells Entertainment Weekly why Star Wars characters Ahsoka Tano and Thrawn don't make an appearance in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026 What would Six Flags look like without its most valuable properties like Looney Tunes and, especially, its DC Comics characters Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman? Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025 KPop Demon Hunters characters Derpy Tiger and Sussie were also featured. Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 28 Nov. 2025 Netflix characters Derpy Tiger and Sussie from KPop Demon Hunters will also join the lineup. Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characters
Noun
  • Blending bergamot, tuberose, iris, and Bulgarian rose, the fragrance has become one of the most enduring symbols of her royal wedding and remains closely associated with Princess Grace decades later.
    Colleen Sullivan, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Many of the pieces depict the horrors of war, with Ukrainian flags amid burning buildings but others show symbols of love and resilience.
    Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • No documentarian has a better eye for intriguing oddballs than Errol Morris, who built his feature film career on drawing them out in conversation, from pet-cemetery owners in Gates of Heaven to small-town eccentrics in Vernon, Florida.
    Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Dippold has populated the show with lovable eccentrics played by great character actors—Dale Dickey, Jeff Hiller, Tim Baltz.
    Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Sure, training camp always inflates the reputations of a receiver who can win a 50-50 ball against second-string cornerbacks.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • But credibility—the kind that moves an investor, closes a deal or survives due diligence—still flows from editorial placements in publications with reputations built over decades.
    Ohad Ben Artzi, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Jack Reacher, protagonist of books by Lee Child and an ongoing Amazon drama, has several characteristics integral to his Jack Reacher-ness.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Hydrogen tackles flight phases Unlike conventional jet fuel, hydrogen has different combustion and storage characteristics, requiring changes to the systems that deliver and burn it.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Shih said the suspects wore masks, gloves and hooded clothing to conceal their identities, but detectives were able to identify them as a 19-year-old Tracy man, an 18-year-old San Jose man and a 17-year-old San Jose boy.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In Linklater’s eyes, college symbolizes a fount of opportunity, a place where people can reinvent themselves, try on different identities, and embrace self-exploration.
    Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • But the Iran war cannot be blamed entirely on the influence of individual personalities.
    Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Courtesy of Xfinity/Rock Studios Reality television introduces audiences to fresh personalities, many of whom go on to establish careers after their time on the show.
    Jacqueline Jevtich, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
  • Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.
    Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Lou Reed modeled the sort of petulant sing-talking that characterizes her verses.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • Strada’s website characterizes the candidate as a successful businessman.
    Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Characters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characters. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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