charge 1 of 2

noun

Definition of chargenext
1
as in indictment
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person charges of burglary and armed robbery that have yet to be proved

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in mission
a specific task with which a person or group is charged your charge is to keep everyone else organized and busy

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3
as in instruction
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned we've received an official charge about how to handle the situation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in responsibility
something one must do because of prior agreement the first charge of our armed forces is to defend this country against enemy attack

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5
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence the famously disastrous charge led by General George Pickett at Gettysburg

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6
as in cost
the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something the charge for the book will be five dollars

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7
as in stewardship
the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control was given charge of the business during the owner's absence

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8
as in expense
a payment made in the course of achieving a result the charges mounted at a dizzying pace as the building project went way over budget

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9
as in thrill
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings the slopes at this resort aren't particularly challenging and aren't likely to give expert skiers much of a charge

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10
as in management
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something he inherited charge of the Paris bureau after his supervisor quit

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charge

2 of 2

verb

ˈchärj How to pronounce charge (audio)
1
as in to ask
to set or receive as a price any shop would charge $100 to repair that thing

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2
as in to impose
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty charges a restocking fee for returned merchandise

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to task
to give a task, duty, or responsibility to we're charging you with the care of your little sister while we're gone for the evening

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4
as in to order
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority charged the soldier to keep watch over the prisoner

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5
as in to accuse
to make a claim of wrongdoing against he has not yet been charged with any crime

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6
as in to fill
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained charge a blast furnace with iron ore

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7
as in to assault
to take sudden, violent action against plans to charge the enemy's fortification at daybreak

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8
as in to thrill
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings of the players are going into this game still charged from their upset victory the week before

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb charge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of charge are bid, command, direct, enjoin, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

When is bid a more appropriate choice than charge?

While in some cases nearly identical to charge, bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of charge?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

How do direct and instruct relate to one another, in the sense of charge?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls
the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

When would enjoin be a good substitute for charge?

The meanings of enjoin and charge largely overlap; however, enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

In what contexts can order take the place of charge?

The synonyms order and charge are sometimes interchangeable, but order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

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 charge
Noun
The New York Times reported that prosecutors are undecided as of Friday afternoon about refiling the charges. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 In addition to the manslaughter charge, Snelling pleaded guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
The rest of that encounter is charged with the discomfort of Evans’s open distrust of Seyfried and Seyfried’s own defensiveness of her work. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026 Four days later, Gatto was arrested and charged with murder and arson, among other charges. — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for charge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charge
  1. indictment
  2. mission
  3. instruction
  4. responsibility
  5. attack
  6. cost
  7. stewardship
  8. expense
Noun
  • The 2021 indictment describes fake contracts and other paperwork allegedly used to make the payments appear legitimate.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The indictment also names Pulido’s son, Emmanuel Enrique Rubio González, and two other alleged associates.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of indictment
Noun
  • Today a myriad of arts organizations champion wildly diverse missions.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Seven strangers from different countries and backgrounds are forced to compete in a deadly game, each facing a different mission to rescue a loved one.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of mission
Noun
  • That role demands reliable equipment capable of transmitting strategic instructions during severe national security crises.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Gartner expects more than 40% of agentic AI projects, which are projects built on AI that acts on its own rather than waiting for instructions, to be scrapped by the end of 2027, citing escalating costs and unclear business value among the reasons.
    — Ciaran Cosgrave, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • No perpetrators have been publicly identified, and no claims of responsibility have been made public.
    — JOHN LEICESTER, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The carrier is expected to hold NATO command ship responsibilities until mid-2027, positioning it to lead a multinational naval force if activated during an international crisis.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • The claim that Ukraine has halted its strikes on energy sites could not be independently verified, but neither Russian officials nor media have reported Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries since the energy truce was announced.
    — HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Before the current attacks, the airport handled roughly 110,000 passengers a day — similar in scale to Miami International airport.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Budgets have tightened and commissioners have retreated to the familiar — backing low-cost dramas and safe-bet crime formats.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Turning those minutes into cost savings depends on how staff use the extra time, after paying for software, training, and reviewing its results.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of cost
Noun
  • Although more brands are embracing recyclable packaging in the name of environmental stewardship, most don’t know if it’s actually being recycled.
    — Matt Alderton, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Proactive monitoring, compliance audits and documentation practices help anticipate regulatory shifts and demonstrate responsible stewardship.
    — Jennifer C. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of stewardship
Noun
  • Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income, and early withdrawals may face penalties unless they’re used for qualifying expenses such as education or a first home, so families should review the tax rules before deciding how to use the money.
    — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The Central Valley city had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, along with a high rent burden, transportation costs and childcare expenses, according to Single Mother Grants.
    — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of expense

Phrases Containing charge

Browse Nearby Words

chares
charge
chargeable
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Cite this Entry

“Charge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charge. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on charge

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about charge

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