SPELLS Synonyms: 149 Similar and Opposite Words

spells 1 of 2

noun

plural of spell

as in incantations

a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power the witch cast a spell that turned the prince into a toad

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Relevance

as in bouts

a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder a dizzy spell that caused me to fall

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in whiles

an indefinite but usually short period of time come rest a spell

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spells

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spell

as in possesses

to cast a spell on it was as if he had spelled the public into believing his ridiculous claims

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blesses

as in means

to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind that summertime combination of hot temperatures and equally hot tempers can spell trouble

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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 spells

Noun

Building an international band that includes Eiko Ishibashi, Jim O’Rourke, and a whistler, the Australian guitarist shapes longform spells of emotional and musical ambiguity. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026 The insulation of the mulch will help keep the bulbs dormant during those treacherous warm spells in late winter and early spring. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026 And while some fall heat spells have been worse, the once that’s expected to begin this week won’t be easy to ignore. — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2026 On lawns, thick mats smother grass and can promote snow mold, especially through wet spells. — Pam Rosendal, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026 Provide the Right Light Levels Mums bloom best in full sun, though too much direct sun during spells of hot weather can cause flower colors to fade. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2026 Dull spells and lulls will crop up, building like waves, peaking, crashing, then dissipating. — Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026 Since then, had loan spells at Stoke City, Birmingham City and Hull. — James Pearce, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 All the while, #witchtok garners millions of posts, and there’s no shortage of flash sales for love spells – or curses. — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Verb

That spells greater risk for companies selling into global markets. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 And with audiences giving Digger a C on the exit poll Cinemascore (for which anything below a B usually spells disaster), word of mouth will only further curtail its prospects of striking box-office gold. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026 Thayer doesn’t believe the technology spells doomsday for human real estate agents. — Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2026 Whether the evidence spells the end of peewee football remains up in the air. — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026 Your relationship with Brian Duffield, who also spells his first name correctly, is largely built around sharing memes together. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026 Our guide to Acadia National Park spells it all out and more—and don’t forget your hiking boots! — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026 The Sofitel brand, after all, spells amenities, loyalty programs, and an international set. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026 On others, handwritten spells manifesting joy or health dance across the white surface. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spells

Noun

Fascinatingly, however, the incantations are neither soothing nor conciliatory.

— Eleanor Johnson, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
The Hoodoo tradition presumes a belief in a supernatural or spirit world that can be called upon for assistance, often through charms and incantations.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of incantations

Noun

Forecasters are warning South Florida residents that numerous cities will be drenched in rainfall that may lead to bouts of flash flooding and some thunderstorms Saturday night.

— Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Yet his next leadership election is looking smooth compared with the past couple of bouts to lead the Senate GOP.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of bouts

Verb

Her path crosses with that of Inocência, an enslaved Black woman who possesses healing knowledge, knows the land, and devises her own strategies of resistance.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
More than 5% of equipment and materials supplied to US chipmakers originate in China, which also possesses some 90% of the rare earths required to manufacture semiconductors, a new report showed.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of possesses

Verb

Price optimization means choosing prices that advance business goals, such as increasing profits, attracting shoppers or clearing unsold goods.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
This defense needs to find a way to make quarterbacks uncomfortable without becoming blitz crazy, and that means Chop Robinson, Josh Uche and Malik Herring must step up and win more of their 1-on-1 assignments.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of means

Noun

Vieira said the show offers another opportunity for people to discover Rockport beyond the fictional curses portrayed in the series.

— Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
But repression isn’t a good plan when generations-long curses run in the bloodline, because Sally’s daughter Kylie (Joey King), now a college student, has gone and fallen in love behind her mother’s back.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of curses

Noun

O’Rourke and double bassist Johan Berthling shape a steady drone, while Ishibashi’s piano runs suggest time-lapse footage of ice crystals forming, ordinary little bits cohering into objects of wonder.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
Cryptographers responded by lengthening the keys, and 2,048 bits is now considered the minimum.

— Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of bits

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spell out

spells

spells out

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Style

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

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Synonyms of spells

noun

verb

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