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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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charge

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verb

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as in to ask
to set or receive as a price any shop would charge $100 to repair that thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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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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
President Donald Trump has announced a 30% tariff for both the European Union (E.U.) and Mexico, with the charges set to come into effect on Aug. 1. Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 12 July 2025 Moore pleaded not guilty to the charges, while one of his co-defendants entered into a plea agreement for a misdemeanor charge and another co-defendant entered into a diversion agreement. Jacob Rosen july 12, CBS News, 12 July 2025
Verb
Sources also told Billboard that Smith was charged with a misdemeanor traffic offense of failure to yield resulting in a fatality, which underscores a lack of criminal intent. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 11 July 2025 The man who allegedly killed 18-year-old Morgan Hill resident Marissa DiNapoli has been charged with murder as new details emerge about the case, according to Santa Clara County court records. Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for charge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charge
Noun
  • The handoff was coordinated by text and took place in a City Hall bathroom in June 2023, the federal indictment states.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025
  • According to the 2023 federal indictment, Moore and his co-defendants faced up to 35 years in prison on charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to convert government property, and aiding and abetting those efforts.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • In April 1970, what began as NASA's third mission to land on the moon turned into a desperate fight for survival.
    Tal Frankfurt, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • For Principal Nicole Sledge, the summit reflects th school’s larger mission.
    Essence, Essence, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • The first is do not send or accept wire instructions by email.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2025
  • Some sirens can broadcast specific instructions, which can help.
    Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • But the water that none of us can live without is everyday kindness and responsibility.
    Pico Iyer, Time, 5 July 2025
  • For the generation currently between 13 and 28 years old, better known as Gen-Z, Trump’s policy bill represents a shift in retirement policy that places more responsibility on the individual.
    Alejandra Rojas, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky kicked off the proceedings in Rome as Moscow pounded Ukraine’s capital with another major missile and drone attack overnight in some of the heaviest attacks on Kyiv in the more than three-year war.
    Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
  • Anxiety over a possible terrorist attack on the world’s then second-tallest building dramatically reduced the attractiveness of the 110-story tower at 233 S. Wacker Drive to some existing tenants and many prospective ones.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • In an interview, Missouri State senior associate athletic director Casey Hunt made no bones about the fact that the stunt/A&T twofer was a gender-equity play, noting the relatively low cost and high roster capacity of both sports, especially post-House.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
  • Shriners Hospitals for Children have also alleviated the financial burden on the Petersons by covering the costs of Hadley's medical procedures, some of which would normally cost tens of thousands of dollars.
    Analisa Novak, CBS News, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • His stewardship of the state during the COVID-19 pandemic was roundly criticized as overreach by Republicans with some municipal leaders ignoring business shutdown orders.
    Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • Trade chips Under the stewardship of president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin, the Canucks have generally been an aggressive team on the trade market.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Under the program, up to five new housing projects restricted to those making between 60-100% of the area median income will be exempt from paying property taxes and state sales taxes on construction expenses in return for giving the DHA a small ownership stake in the real estate.
    Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 4 July 2025
  • In addition to the tax cuts, businesses (employers) will be permitted to continue writing off equipment costs and expenses in the first year of purchase.
    Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Charge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charge. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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