EN

Synonyms for spell

58 synonyms
4 antonyms
5 meanings

noun
verb

Most common

incantation enchantment charm magic term while turn

Synonyms by meaning

Noun

1. Incantation — words or a formula supposed to have magical powers

incantation, enchantment, conjuration formal, charm, magic, magic spell, rune, sorcery, witchcraft, witchery, exorcism, charisma, mojo, fascination, obeah, wanga, hex rare, cantrip rare, spellword rare, pishogue rare, makutu rare NZ

2. Patch

term, while, time, season, patch, interval, period, snap, minute, piece, space

3. Tour

Other

curse, fit, trance

Verb

1. Bewitch — to put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm

bewitch, witch, jinx, glamour, glamor US, enchant, spellbind rare, enspell rare, bespell rare

2. Signify — to indicate that (some event) will occur; typically followed by a single-word noun

mean, signify, equal, forebode rare

Other

read, write, relieve, import, comprise informal, orthographize rare, orthographise UK

Antonyms

bit, misspell, flash

All antonyms of spell →

Definitions

n. 1
Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers.
He cast a spell to cure warts.
n. 2
A magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula.
v. 1
To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.
v. 2
To indicate that (some event) will occur; typically followed by a single-word noun.

Related words

Word family: spellbinding spellbind spell-bound spellcaster spellcraft spellword spell-checker spelldown
Phrases: spell out breathing spell magic spell spell it out spell-checker cold spell spell things out dry spell

Forms

Plural: spells → incantations, enchantments, conjurations, charms…
Past participle: spelt
e.g. spelt → bewitched, witched, jinxed, glamoured…

Example sentences

magic He amused the children by showing them some magic.
enchantment Tomas shrugged, not understanding Maria's enchantment.
incantation Tom uttered a Latin incantation and was suddenly in Boston.
piece He showed kindness by giving me a piece of advice.
curse Don't curse or I'll wash your mouth out with soap.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
spell		rising
magic		rising
enchantment		rising
incantation		rising
piece		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

2 letters: go¹
3 letters: fit¹, hex¹
4 letters: time¹, mean¹, read¹, turn¹, term¹, tour¹, snap¹, mojo², jinx¹, rune¹
5 letters: while¹, space¹, piece¹, write¹, magic², equal², patch¹, charm¹, curse¹, witch¹, obeah, wanga
6 letters: season², period³, minute², import², trance¹, glamor², makutu
7 letters: relieve², glamour², signify³, sorcery³, enchant², bewitch², cantrip, enspell, bespell
8 letters: interval³, comprise², charisma³, exorcism⁴, witchery, forebode², pishogue
9 letters: spellword, spellbind
10 letters: witchcraft²
11 letters: fascination⁴, enchantment³, incantation⁴, conjuration
13 letters: orthographize, orthographise

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (mojo² = 2 syllables).