characteristics

noun

plural of characteristic
as in qualities
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

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 characteristics The challenge is to innovate without abandoning the characteristics customers recognize and appreciate. — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The fighter jet integrates low-observable stealth characteristics with advanced sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, and networked information sharing. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026 The system records license plates and vehicle characteristics, allowing police departments to search for vehicles that may be connected to criminal investigations. — Gino Vicci, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Welcoming Taupe Taupe and cream share some of the same characteristics of being a soft, airy shade that’s easy to mesh with furniture materials and other colors. — Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 14 Oct. 2026 Those characteristics can be particularly relevant to fashion distribution, where seasonal peaks, promotional periods and e-commerce demand can put intense pressure on fulfillment operations. — Josh McMorrow, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 Balls put in play with those characteristics are hits 84% of the time, per the league's Statcast page. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Fully agentic shopping remains a longer-term prospect, and each company has characteristics that could help insulate its business as the technology develops. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 But these trace elements can have an outsize effect on overall stellar characteristics. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characteristics
  1. qualities
  2. traits
  3. attributes
  4. features
  5. attributions
  6. criteria
Noun
  • With a bigger budget from Netflix, Sy and Leterrier leaned further into the show’s superhero-like qualities, expanding its universe beyond the novels of Maurice Leblanc and weaving some futuristic elements.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The Groove Holds It All Together One of the song’s most compelling qualities is its infectious groove.
    — David Penn, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of qualities
Noun
  • The PGCs will then be rewritten to add dodo traits, in the same way the gray wolf was edited.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Were the traits that people value – and their underlying mutations – already present in the wild?
    — Ornob Alam, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of traits
Noun
  • Across relevant categories, comparisons and purchase-intent prompts, models will associate certain attributes with your brand.
    — Lora Kratchounova, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Within premium products, there is a focus on longevity attributes in skin care and elegant, sophisticated makeup products among mature middle-class consumers.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of attributes
Noun
  • Last year, Royal Palm underwent a $100 million renovation by new owner Park Hotels and Resorts, updating all guest rooms, adding new dining concepts, and restoring key architectural features.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
  • This week, the Royals unveiled new renderings of what their future stadium in Crown Center will look like, with dramatic plaza entrances and a design that highlights Kansas City’s natural features and surrounding landmarks.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of features
Noun
  • Yet many appeared eager to take Feldstein’s shifting attributions at face value.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
  • In two cases, the publishers added specific attributions, as had been required of Miller’s book.
    — Jessica Meszaros, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of attributions
Noun
  • That policy needs to evaluate prospective patients against criteria such as the patient’s needs and the agency’s ability to provide services, in relation to the current caseload, average case mix intensity, staffing and competence of staff.
    — Colin Conner II, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Studies have estimated that anywhere between 25% and 35% of the patient population would meet the current clinical criteria for gene therapy.
    — Steven Ross Johnson, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of criteria

Browse Nearby Words

characteristic
characteristics
characterize
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Characteristics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characteristics. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All