characters 1 of 2

Definition of charactersnext
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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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
But fights are just as integral to the Netflix show created by Lee Sung Jin, and the series’ sound team needed to do even more meticulous work building visceral senses of anger, stress, and dread that slowly swallow up the characters and steer them into making a compounding set of poor decisions. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026 Apex, which primarily consists of its two main characters chasing each other around the fictional Wandarra National Park on location in the real Australian Blue Mountains, is more focused in action than in psychological nuance. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 Berlanti Productions is currently under an overall deal at WBTV, with the studio controlling the rights to the Hanna-Barbera characters. Alex Ritman, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 There was also a hot make-out sesh in the powder room between Marsden and Munn’s characters, and Coop answering his own version of the Four Questions. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2026 Dripping glitter, shimmering adhesive crystals, dramatic slashes of eyeliner and smudges of eyeshadow—there was a playful, shifting experimentalism here, to signal the young characters’ changeability and ingenuity. Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026 The new film stars Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, all playing characters who appeared in the original movies. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026 The power of his work resides not in ideological argument or moral screed but in the observation of characters struggling to maintain their humanity in an inhuman system. Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
  • But the four-poster bed carved with Pica-pau’s symbols feels enchanted and protective.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • People remember chunks, patterns, and familiar symbols far better than abstract strings.
    Jay Gardiner, Boston Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The town’s overflowing with charming Midwest eccentrics, including a cocky mayor (Henry Winkler) and a welcoming barkeep (Lena Headey).
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Those crazy, diverse individuals, that tribe of oddballs and eccentrics, dreamers, and gamblers who make up this business.
    Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • People can be skeptical when screen stars parachute into plays around Tony season to burnish their reputations.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The dress code rewards craft and concept — both of which the group’s stylists have built reputations on.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Researchers evaluated and recorded the same 28 characteristics for each species based on preexisting data from universities and government agencies, Nunez-Mir said.
    Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Clean-up operations involve experts who calculate the risk of a criticality accident based on the characteristics of the material being moved, Rofer says.
    Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The identities of the gunmen are unknown.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
  • And then there's the way in which these different identities are being used in political settings for propaganda.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Schneider gave a shout-out to his scouting staff for doing the work to uncover the type of personalities the Seahawks would be acquiring.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • For the very first time, Rina and Serasi stepped onto their outdoor habitat — and their personalities were already on full display.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But no such device exists for the way Trump characterizes it — at least not when math is done correctly.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The author characterizes Huntington Beach itself as an inherently self-aggrandizing, wealthy coastal enclave unrepresentative of broader California concerns, dismissing the notion that this affluent beach town should serve as a model for statewide governance or the state’s future direction.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As Wilde said, there’s room for both originals and franchises.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Earlier this month, two Movistar Plus+ originals – Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s ‘The Beloved,’ starring Javier Bardem, and ‘La Bola Negra,’ with Penélope Cruz, directed by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo – were selected for main competition at the Cannes Festival.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Characters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characters. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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