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Some common synonyms of characteristic<\/em> are distinctive<\/em><\/a>, individual<\/em><\/a>, and peculiar<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"indicating a special quality or identity,\" characteristic<\/em> applies to something that distinguishes or identifies a person or thing or class.<\/p>

\/\/ responded with her characteristic<\/em> wit<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When could 'distinctive' be used to replace 'characteristic'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to characteristic<\/em>, distinctive<\/em><\/a> indicates qualities distinguishing and uncommon and often superior or praiseworthy.<\/p>

\/\/ a distinctive<\/em> aura of grace and elegance<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'individual' be used instead of 'characteristic'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words individual<\/em><\/a> and characteristic<\/em> have much in common, individual<\/em> stresses qualities that distinguish one from all other members of the same kind or class.<\/p>

\/\/ a highly individual<\/em> writing style<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'peculiar' be a better fit than 'characteristic'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The meanings of peculiar<\/em><\/a> and characteristic<\/em> largely overlap; however, peculiar<\/em> applies to qualities possessed only by a particular individual or class or kind and stresses rarity or uniqueness.<\/p>

\/\/ an eccentricity that is peculiar<\/em> to the British<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does the adjective 'characteristic' contrast with its synonyms?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Some common synonyms of characteristic<\/em> are distinctive<\/em><\/a>, individual<\/em><\/a>, and peculiar<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"indicating a special quality or identity,\" characteristic<\/em> applies to something that distinguishes or identifies a person or thing or class.<\/p>

\/\/ responded with her characteristic<\/em> wit<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When could 'distinctive' be used to replace 'characteristic'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to characteristic<\/em>, distinctive<\/em><\/a> indicates qualities distinguishing and uncommon and often superior or praiseworthy.<\/p>

\/\/ a distinctive<\/em> aura of grace and elegance<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'individual' be used instead of 'characteristic'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words individual<\/em><\/a> and characteristic<\/em> have much in common, individual<\/em> stresses qualities that distinguish one from all other members of the same kind or class.<\/p>

\/\/ a highly individual<\/em> writing style<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'peculiar' be a better fit than 'characteristic'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The meanings of peculiar<\/em><\/a> and characteristic<\/em> largely overlap; however, peculiar<\/em> applies to qualities possessed only by a particular individual or class or kind and stresses rarity or uniqueness.<\/p>

\/\/ an eccentricity that is peculiar<\/em> to the British<\/p>" } } ] }

characteristic 1 of 2

noun

ËŒker-ik-tÉ™-ˈri-stik How to pronounce characteristic (audio)
Definition of characteristicnext
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

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characteristic

2 of 2

adjective

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective characteristic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of characteristic are distinctive, individual, and peculiar. While all these words mean "indicating a special quality or identity," characteristic applies to something that distinguishes or identifies a person or thing or class.

responded with her characteristic wit

When could distinctive be used to replace characteristic?

While in some cases nearly identical to characteristic, distinctive indicates qualities distinguishing and uncommon and often superior or praiseworthy.

a distinctive aura of grace and elegance

When can individual be used instead of characteristic?

Although the words individual and characteristic have much in common, individual stresses qualities that distinguish one from all other members of the same kind or class.

a highly individual writing style

When might peculiar be a better fit than characteristic?

The meanings of peculiar and characteristic largely overlap; however, peculiar applies to qualities possessed only by a particular individual or class or kind and stresses rarity or uniqueness.

an eccentricity that is peculiar to the British

How does the adjective characteristic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of characteristic are distinctive, individual, and peculiar. While all these words mean "indicating a special quality or identity," characteristic applies to something that distinguishes or identifies a person or thing or class.

responded with her characteristic wit

When could distinctive be used to replace characteristic?

While in some cases nearly identical to characteristic, distinctive indicates qualities distinguishing and uncommon and often superior or praiseworthy.

a distinctive aura of grace and elegance

When can individual be used instead of characteristic?

Although the words individual and characteristic have much in common, individual stresses qualities that distinguish one from all other members of the same kind or class.

a highly individual writing style

When might peculiar be a better fit than characteristic?

The meanings of peculiar and characteristic largely overlap; however, peculiar applies to qualities possessed only by a particular individual or class or kind and stresses rarity or uniqueness.

an eccentricity that is peculiar to the British

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 characteristic
Noun
Indeed, one of the defining characteristics of this show was its dearth of any language at the awards that could be considered political. —Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026 While some changes are visible once early swelling subsides, clinics generally advise that final rhinoplasty results can take several months to fully develop, and in some cases up to a year depending on surgical technique and tissue characteristics. —Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
People who are infected can spread the virus four days before the characteristic rash shows up. —Erika Edwards, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026 But Israelis have managed to endure even the latest unpleasantness with characteristic resilience. —Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for characteristic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characteristic
  1. trait
  2. distinctive
  3. typical
  4. feature
  5. distinct
  6. normal
  7. attribute
  8. standard
Noun
  • Cronin and Hurley are both sons of high school basketball coaches, and some of those competitive — often combustible — traits are simply part of them now.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Kelso assured the readers that none of these traits is set in stone.
    — Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of trait
Adjective
  • The first phase of the project includes full replacement of Gampel’s distinctive, but often troublesome roof, made of metal-clad, insulated triangular panels.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The poster for Norwood Park features the distinctive, colorful exterior of the Superdawg drive-in hot dog stand.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of distinctive
Adjective
  • In early 2019 and in late 2025, two federal government shutdowns ended shortly after travel disruptions escalated following higher-than-typical absences of air traffic controllers.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The education budget in a typical year is about a third of the city’s total financial plan, which has historically failed to account for actual spending.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of typical
Noun
  • Both safety features were tested by JIATF 401 and the FAA at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico under the Army’s AMP-HEL prototyping program.
    — Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
  • For them as well as for their families, an easy-to-understand safety feature like an airbag will give them peace of mind as well.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of feature
Adjective
  • Mechanical kinks function as boundaries between two distinct internal states within the same material.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
  • This distinct piece was created by engineer Kirk Jellum as an anniversary gift for his wife.
    — Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of distinct
Adjective
  • James turned forty-one at the end of that month, an age at which many people start to notice the normal degeneration of their tendons and joints.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
  • The start of the day seemed very normal to me.
    — Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of normal
Noun
  • Those attributes have led Bank of America analysts to adopt a constructive outlook on CoreWeave over the medium and longer terms.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
  • However, the issue is that these attributes have been flattened into something far more superficial and inaccurate, relationship experts warn.
    — Jenna Ryu, SELF, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of attribute
Adjective
  • Unlike a standard brand launch, Friday’s kicks off at 4pm and ends at 10pm — early by any standard, not least Spain.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2026
  • In what amounted to something of a deviation from the standard CBS/TNTS presentation, no ad sales execs participated in the call.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of standard

Browse Nearby Words

charactering
characteristic
characteristics
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Cite this Entry

“Characteristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characteristic. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of characteristic for Spanish Speakers

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