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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The messages were found during a State Bureau of Investigation probe into Elliott, who faces criminal charges for using Flock license plate readers to look up a plate for his friend from college. — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026 During the Biden administration, voter fraud charges were brought in just 13 cases, Blanche added. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
She was arrested and charged with second-degree child endangerment after her daughter reportedly arrived at school with sunburns, sparking a media frenzy over Krentcil's extreme tanning habits and parenting. — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, alongside multiple USB-C charging ports and wireless phone charging. — New Atlas, 24 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
  • Despite the controversies and indictments, the league still views legalized sports gambling, and now prediction markets, as its best option.
    — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Comey has denied any wrongdoing in that case and is seeking to have the indictment tossed out by a judge.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of indictment
Noun
  • The technology could be particularly useful in situations where drones operate frequently or perform missions with limited time for detailed manual checks.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The recovery mission, involving remote, unexplored terrain, a helicopter at extremely high altitude, and the constant threat of more avalanches from above, was as dangerous, perhaps, as anything these men had ever attempted.
    — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of mission
Noun
  • Believing her daughter’s life was on the line, Del Mastro followed the caller’s instructions for five hours.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Over seven full-lengths, Butler has created a multi-volume instruction manual for transcendence.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • Rushing went through a learning curve juggling his defensive and offensive responsibilities, and navigating intense online scrutiny of his outbursts on the field and in the dugout.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Enroll your baby before the clock runs out Ensuring your newborn has health coverage is one of the first paperwork responsibilities that parents face in the whirlwind of bringing a baby home.
    — Stephanie O'Neill, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • On three separate occasions in the past week, Ukraine didn’t receive early warnings about missile attacks.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
  • OpenCode had been running its defense with an OpenAI model, which started to refuse its requests in the middle of the attack.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • But then shipping disruptions, rising fuel costs, and steep international tariffs made exporting increasingly difficult, prompting Yu to turn her attention to building a domestic market.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Future success will require Space42 to turn its technological capabilities, capital commitments and international partnerships into commercially viable services that can compete across markets at scale and at a sustainable cost.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of cost
Noun
  • By the end of the Biden administration, there were over 400 co-stewardship or co-management agreements with tribes, 159 within the National Park Service alone, says Sams.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The company’s founder has sued Kao, saying his stewardship defrauded Navatek of millions.
    — Molly Redden, ProPublica, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of stewardship
Noun
  • Excluding notable items, expenses rose amid inflation and higher spending on technology.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The health benefits it is meant to finance aren’t one-time expenses, after all.
    — Ramesh Ponnuru, Washington Post, 27 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about charge

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