1
as in incantations
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power
the witch cast a spell that turned the prince into a toad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in bouts
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder
a dizzy spell that caused me to fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whiles
an indefinite but usually short period of time
come rest a spell
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in possesses
to cast a spell on
it was as if he had spelled the public into believing his ridiculous claims
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in means
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
that summertime combination of hot temperatures and equally hot tempers can spell trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spells
Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Coach Ralf Rangnick took over in 2022 after spells with Manchester United, Hoffenheim, Schalke and Stuttgart and Leipzig.
—ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Yes, the five first-years are all in the set as two-color uncommons with Prepared spells, serving a similar function to STX’s cycle with Zimone and Quintorius.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
As with its last two installments, FH6 respects Japan’s changing seasons, though their effect on the world is far more profound than in Forza Horizon 5‘s Mexico, which really only alternated between dry and wet spells.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 8 Apr. 2026
As humidity increases, patchy fog may also develop overnight and into the early mornings late in the week — another sign that Houston is moving away from spring’s fleeting cool spells and into a more persistently warm seasonal pattern.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2026
Now, though, with the widespread circulation of magic manuals, grimoires, and related compendia—with the recording, on paper, of words, spells, histories, stories—witchcraft has taken an irreversible step into the exoteric realm.
—Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Wessels catches gleams to follow not only in magical tales but in twinkling memories, sparkling wordplay, the films of silver-screen star Veronica Lake, and his charm of a daughter, the inspiration of a half-dozen poems that take their titles from spells.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
In the future, the researchers would like to expose the embryos to longer microgravity spells to gain deeper insights into the processes taking place in space-like conditions.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Susan Tompor, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Weeks before Jason gushed over Kylie on Tuesday's panel, the Not Gonna Lie host hilariously revealed that the former NFL star spells one of their daughter's names incorrectly.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
The British government spells it out in guidance for staff working with classified documents.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
The timing of Tim Cook’s departure from Apple spells good things for the company’s fiscal second-quarter earnings report, set to be released on April 30, Wall Street analysts are buzzing.
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Not everyone thinks this spells disaster, however.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026
While the coffee chat isn’t new, Kessler said the return to meeting people and showing other signals spells the cover letter’s inevitable end.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Like the midwives’ spells Pliny the Elder described, this ritual harnessed the belief that women’s bodies and voices were powerful and transformative.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
The character of Biff Dipper, an engineer, will be found in the ride’s preshow, familiarizing guests with the story of the asteroid that spells impending doom.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Havertz looked utterly forlorn, visibly distressed to pick up yet another injury after a year decimated by two serious surgeries and long spells of rehabilitation.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Coach Ralf Rangnick took over in 2022 after spells with Manchester United, Hoffenheim, Schalke and Stuttgart and Leipzig.
—ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Yes, the five first-years are all in the set as two-color uncommons with Prepared spells, serving a similar function to STX’s cycle with Zimone and Quintorius.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
As with its last two installments, FH6 respects Japan’s changing seasons, though their effect on the world is far more profound than in Forza Horizon 5‘s Mexico, which really only alternated between dry and wet spells.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 8 Apr. 2026
As humidity increases, patchy fog may also develop overnight and into the early mornings late in the week — another sign that Houston is moving away from spring’s fleeting cool spells and into a more persistently warm seasonal pattern.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2026
Now, though, with the widespread circulation of magic manuals, grimoires, and related compendia—with the recording, on paper, of words, spells, histories, stories—witchcraft has taken an irreversible step into the exoteric realm.
—Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Wessels catches gleams to follow not only in magical tales but in twinkling memories, sparkling wordplay, the films of silver-screen star Veronica Lake, and his charm of a daughter, the inspiration of a half-dozen poems that take their titles from spells.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
In the future, the researchers would like to expose the embryos to longer microgravity spells to gain deeper insights into the processes taking place in space-like conditions.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
And the chart spells it out, admittedly in very tiny print.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Weeks before Jason gushed over Kylie on Tuesday's panel, the Not Gonna Lie host hilariously revealed that the former NFL star spells one of their daughter's names incorrectly.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
The British government spells it out in guidance for staff working with classified documents.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
The timing of Tim Cook’s departure from Apple spells good things for the company’s fiscal second-quarter earnings report, set to be released on April 30, Wall Street analysts are buzzing.
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Not everyone thinks this spells disaster, however.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026
While the coffee chat isn’t new, Kessler said the return to meeting people and showing other signals spells the cover letter’s inevitable end.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Like the midwives’ spells Pliny the Elder described, this ritual harnessed the belief that women’s bodies and voices were powerful and transformative.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
The character of Biff Dipper, an engineer, will be found in the ride’s preshow, familiarizing guests with the story of the asteroid that spells impending doom.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spells
Noun
-
As prospective farmers struggled to clear forests for rice fields in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Malaya, their efforts might have been accompanied by mystical incantations like this invocation against Iblis, the Devil in Islamic tradition.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Where ancient midwives had summoned divine assistance by uttering incantations, medieval maternity caregivers called upon saintly mothers by reciting rhythmical charms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Later that evening, three rounds of hail inundated the house, followed by two bouts of whipping winds.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
-
During the competition 10 teams of poets compete in preliminary bouts with the top four teams performing at Finals.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
UCHealth’s decision to postpone surgeries whiles staff addressed the sterilization problem stands out from other hospitals that have found themselves in similar situations.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the court, as discovery was being discussed, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said the prosecution possesses roughly 40 terabytes of evidence, which the defense has requested access to.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Under Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act, Turkey cannot rejoin the program unless the president certifies to Congress that Ankara no longer possesses or operates the S-400 and that the system poses no risk to the F-35.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bacon notes the Department of Corrections receives almost all its money from the general fund so more money for corrections means less for education, transportation, and Medicaid.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Keep in mind, tulips require full sun, which means at least six hours of bright, direct sunlight a day.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tens of millions of downloads deep, among discussions regarding ongoing bear curses and the quiet art of being a decent person, Drew Barrymore has asked about boogers and Jane Fonda has asked about hope.—
Brittany Delay,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
There are still deliveries of hate mail from conservative neighbors who disapprove of their lifestyle, and occasional drive-bys punctuated with curses yelled from car windows, but they’ve largely been accepted by the community.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Both Hezbollah and Israel have have defended their attacks and claimed that the other has violated the ceasefire.—
Sarah Dean,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
-
While disrupting the business of an American multinational company may seem a pallid response to the destruction of an Iranian primary school where more than a hundred children were killed, such asymmetric attacks in the physical and digital realms have been a feature of this conflict.—
Sue Halpern,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Quaise is developing a drilling system that uses millimeter wave energy to melt and vaporize rock at extreme depths where conventional drill bits struggle with heat and pressure.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Watching babies get blown to bits should do something to you.—
Adelle Platon,
VIBE.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spells. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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