DUENDE Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

duende

noun

dü-ˈen-(ˌ)dā

Definition of duende

as in appeal

the power of irresistible attraction even as a child, she had an unmistakable duende that attracted the attention of passersby

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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 duende That involved the special forces paying due heed to Indigenous cosmology which suggested a malign shapeshifting being known as a duende was conspiring to hide the children from their would-be rescuers. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025 In some of its most memorable reporting, former host Maria Celeste Arrarás and the team of reporters shared stories of duendes lurking in trees in Central America, brujas voladoras captured on camera by a shaky camcorder, and UFO or alien sightings. — Alex Zaragoza, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023 Charisma, class, and style all have something to do with duende. — Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2021 Which means that, for a dancer, duende is not only a mystical inspiration. — Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2019 Krug is no Orr, because no one can recreate that time, that talent that duende, but the winning rush was of near-No. — BostonGlobe.com, 23 Nov. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for duende

Noun

Now, in the midst of a subdued market, investors are being more selective, and the new playbook for funding fashion has a lot to do with the quality of that growth, the depth of connection with customers and the founder’s individual appeal.

— Tara Donaldson, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Lucas chose to accept his execution and waive further appeals after DeSantis signed his death warrant in July.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of appeal

Noun

While the tents have the most charm, imo—ivory canvas walls, Adirondack chairs on wooden porches, true beds with sheepskin throws and wooden frames—the cabins and suites are unsurprisingly the more comfortable option.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
Even as Modi and his ministers go on a charm offensive, local media report Indian police booked thousands on criminal charges.

— Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of charm

Noun

The film grew out of Herzog’s fascination with British twins Freda and Greta Chaplin, who became tabloid fodder in the 1980s after a neighbor was granted a restraining order against them.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
On the one hand, there’s a fascination with collective joy and the forms of vernacular invention that aspire to it; on the other, there’s an underlying melancholy that points to the inevitability of isolation, an epistemology of loneliness.

— Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of fascination

Noun

The list of 500 schools was compiled by the magazine and data research firm Statista, Schools were given a score based on their student outcomes, learning environment and their attractiveness to students.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
The stakes are high, with victory on the track bringing in prize money and enhancing the team’s attractiveness to sponsors like Petronas and Microsoft.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of attractiveness

Noun

The bacon is cooked until deeply caramelized, with crisp, smoky edges surrounding a rich and tender center, then finished with local Arizona honey for a delicate touch of sweetness.

— Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
And for a few minutes in Kyiv, cultures, death and geopolitics yielded to the power of sweetness and puppy love, as well as the symbolism of resilience and protection.

— Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sweetness

Noun

But though these chemicals are linked to mating in animal species, a link between pheromones and romantic attraction hasn’t been established in humans.

— Rachel Hale, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
With seven weekends and multiple attractions to choose from, visitors might want to visit the festival more than once.

— Rashad Alexander August 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of attraction

Noun

When glamour replaced natural as the look of choice, hair—and its power to call attention, decorate, and define—gained new potency.

— Vanessa Friedman, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
Vintage glamour meets modern hits with modern songs reimagined in 20th-century styles of yesteryear.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of glamour

Noun

Davidson continued, pointing to his longevity and recapturing the magic he’s built alongside legends and sharing it with a new generation of viewers.

— Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 1 Sep. 2026
The intimate show set against the grand history of Carnegie Hall has now been immortalized by Anderson and his onetime star turned fellow camera operator Benny Safdie, who captured the night’s magic in 16 and 35mm film.

— Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of magic

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duels

duende

duenna

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“Duende.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duende. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of duende

noun

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