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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Bowles was held in Fulton State Hospital on unrelated charges, police said. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025 The best photos from this year’s March Madness 1 of 68 The Gators make their charge Things turned around just after that. —Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
The Tribune has withheld her name because she has not been charged with a crime and is employed by CPS. —Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025 Keep your access fully charged for just $2.50 $1 per month for one year. —Molly Taft, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025 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
  • And in a striking indictment, five of those seven women navigated not just the tech world, but also international borders, having immigrated to the United States.
    — Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Smith says people asking him to run is an indictment of the Democratic Party.
    — Eric Fayeulle, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of indictment
Noun
  • But part of it, too, was another vote of confidence in the do-it-all player who has become central to everything about the Tigers’ mission.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Saturday's launch was SpaceX's 42nd Falcon 9 mission of 2025.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of mission
Noun
  • Or, to extrapolate Anderson’s hacks to this example, creating a competition with a sales incentive would be significantly more impactful than barking instructions.
    — Michelle Stansbury, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • To qualify as religious release time, educational instruction must take place off campus, with parental permission and with no public funding.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • The strategy is straightforward: invest at least $2,000 in a company's stock to gain shareholder rights, then submit resolutions pushing for corporate responsibility.
    — Doc Louallen, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Laurie thinks of honesty as a virtue, and she’s been telling the truth to other people without taking any responsibility for her own choices.
    — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • In March, two days of U.S. attacks killed more than 50 people, Houthi officials said.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • After the attack, the juvenile creature was seen floating lifeless in the water, video footage shows.
    — Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of attack
Noun
  • The scale and timing of price increases will likely vary depending on whether a model or its parts originates in the U.S., as well as a manufacturer’s assessment of its customers’ capacity to absorb higher costs, some experts said.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Healthcare providers consider several factors, including your medical history, cost and insurance coverage, and the potential for side effects or drug interactions.
    — Karen Berger, PharmD, Verywell Health, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of cost
Noun
  • The White House remains committed to the stewardship and preservation of its historic grounds.
    — Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2025
  • By prioritizing sustainable infrastructure, the industry can pave the way for a future where technological progress and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
    — Chris Sharp, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of stewardship
Noun
  • Another major talking point in the meeting was cost control given the expense of the current and upcoming power unit designs.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Animal Charity spent $15,000 saving Koda's life and is taking donations to help meet those expenses.
    — Charna Flam, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of expense

Phrases Containing charge

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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 23 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on charge

Nglish: Translation of charge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about charge

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