as in trait
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind
the ability to fashion tools and other characteristics that distinguish human beings from other animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in distinctive
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group
the characteristic taste of licorice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in typical
having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind
the characteristic wit and good-naturedness of the Irish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of characteristic
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 12 Feb. 2025
Rain that had gathered moisture among warmer temperatures and taken on the characteristics of an atmospheric river delivered two warm storms starting late last week that brought flooding to the North Bay, and high rainfall totals elsewhere.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025
Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
With characteristic narrative economy, the movie opens with a short recap of Robert’s early life.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for characteristic
Noun
Beyond that, it’s expected that the new 911 Dakar will have many of the same characteristics as the old one: an air intake that designed for off-roading and a suspension that sits higher than a normal 911.
—Adjective
With his characteristic affability barely concealing cutting commentary, Mulaney then praised Netflix for believing in his show.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for characteristic
Noun
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According to Lalich, there’s one consistent trait among those who join cults, online or otherwise: idealism.—
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Not that the other traits can’t be there as well, but the size, and using that size, must be a constant.—
Adjective
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Morello mixed in brief passages of his own distinctive sound, but the overall effect remained tied to an older tradition.—
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For one thing, Ross created conditions for distinctive voices to be heard.—
Adjective
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While those early performances cemented his status as the typical dorky average-Joe teen, Hall evolved into a versatile actor who has played heroes, villains, and everything in between.—
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Listen to this article The Chicago Blackhawks’ first practice since the NHL took a break for the 4 Nations Face-Off looked more like a series of training camp drills than a typical midseason session.—
Noun
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Directed by Justin Kurzel, whose period crime feature The Order was a genre favorite at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, The Narrow Road to the Deep North is based on Australian author Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel and has been adapted for the screen by writer Shaun Grant.—
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Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Handheld Vacuum $69 at Wayfair The powerful suction is one of the vacuum’s most impressive features.—
Adjective
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Warm in the West By early next week most, locations west of the Mississippi River will also warm to much above normal, with temperatures as much as 10 to 25 degrees above average, the Weather Prediction Center said.—
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Low platelets may occur as a complication of infection, a side effect of certain medications, or a problem with normal platelet production.—
Noun
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This can help avoid surprises and ensure maximum utilization of these valuable tax attributes.—
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While none has the ‘all-in-one’ attributes managers want from a modern centre-forward, Jackson is the closest to connecting the dots.—
Adjective
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This is classic mosaic evolution, where different parts of the anatomy evolve at distinct rates.—
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Resisting the label of fusion, Twitty describes the dish as an homage to flavors that highlights the intersections between distinct culinary traditions.—
Adjective
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For people who forget or miss the deadline altogether, the standard penalty is 5% of the tax due for every month the return is late, up to 25% of the unpaid balance.—
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Each new generational WiFi standard evolution claims vast speed and bandwidth improvements.—
Cite this Entry
“Characteristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characteristic. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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