1
as in to possess
to cast a spell on
it was as if he had spelled the public into believing his ridiculous claims
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to mean
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
that summertime combination of hot temperatures and equally hot tempers can spell trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in curse
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power
the witch cast a spell that turned the prince into a toad
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in bout
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder
a dizzy spell that caused me to fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in while
an indefinite but usually short period of time
come rest a spell
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spell
Nick Romano, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025
All the while, he’s typically dressed in a form-fitting dress, a shoulder-length wig and heeled boots (because open-toed shoes around hatchets and augers could spell disaster).
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
James Mercadante, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2025
These experiments, interspersed with short spells in power for the more conventional parties of the center-left, show an electorate drawn to stronger and stronger versions of outsider posturing and populist extremism.
—Moisés Naím, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spell
Verb
Evan Peters, who previously played speedster Quicksilver in Fox's X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) and X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), made a guest appearance as Ralph Bohner, a resident of the town of West View who was spelled by Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness to act as Wanda's brother Pietro.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025
All the while, he’s typically dressed in a form-fitting dress, a shoulder-length wig and heeled boots (because open-toed shoes around hatchets and augers could spell disaster).
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
Directed by Kenneth Branagh from a screenplay by Chris Weitz (who also wrote 2022's Pinocchio and 2025's Snow White), the film cast a spell on filmgoers and brought in $542.4 million at the global box office.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2025
These experiments, interspersed with short spells in power for the more conventional parties of the center-left, show an electorate drawn to stronger and stronger versions of outsider posturing and populist extremism.
—Moisés Naím, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spell
Verb
-
The final form of the galaxy, despite the illustration here, is more likely to be a gas-rich, disk-possessing galaxy than the elliptical one shown, as only a small percentage of major mergers lead to a red-and-dead, gas-free elliptical final state.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Mar. 2025
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He is charged with one count of transferring or possessing an unregistered machine gun.—
Jason Green,
The Mercury News,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hitting that figure would rely deeply on the $880 billion charged to the Energy and Commerce Committee, which means Medicaid would necessarily be affected.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
14 Apr. 2025
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What health and wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Keeping it Together newsletter.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The annual cost-of-living adjustment Social Security recipients receive is both a blessing and a curse.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Homewood’s location on the western shore of Lake Tahoe is both a blessing and a curse.—
Megan Michelson,
Outside Online,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Mary had experienced previous mental-health dips—two bouts of postpartum depression, for instance.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Lessons learned While many countries were hit by U.S. tariffs this month for the first time, China honed its response during previous bouts of the Sino-American trade war.—
Beijing and Washington Bureaus,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Heat hung around for a while but gave up too many second-chance points, committed too many mindless miscues (14 turnovers) and couldn’t stop Cleveland’s offense from behind the three-point line or on forays to the basket.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2025
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The young hatch and remain inside for a while before dispersing into the water to build tiny bells of their own.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And, naturally, Navarro was instantly charmed, dreamily melting into her chair as her fellow View cohosts all giggled.—
Emlyn Travis,
EW.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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He’s eventually charmed by his patient and relents but still insists on doing his rounds.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The certification signifies that a company meets high social and environmental performance standards, public transparency, and legal accountability.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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This level signifies that a magmatic eruption is underway and could escalate into more powerful explosions.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Then, in what might be one of the most fitting metaphors of parenting and family-building in horror-comedy history, everyone—Rohan, Josh, their parents, their partner's parents, and even their friend—start screaming the same garbled Latin incantation in an effort to confuse the demon.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
26 Mar. 2025
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Alice draws a circle around Lilia uttering some sort of incantation as Patti LuPone’s witch writhes on the floor in her glittery jump suit and orange coat.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Spell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spell. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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