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charming

charming

8 8.2
Having magic power to change people or things
  • adjective
  • /ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋ/
translation icon : mágico
  • Dare i say your charming young man has cast quite a spell on her.
  • Charming Prince
  • Charming Billy
  • snake-charming

Examples

  • In the fairy tale, the charming enchantment brought the garden to life at night.

  • I left because... because I fell in love with a charming prince.

  • I found it to be a charming place, and one of great beauty.

    Blog text (24)
  • Well, I have it on first hand account that this place is not only charming, it's enchanted.

  • "Here's a charming tribal folktale I will share with you," he said to her children.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Once hadst thou wild dogs in thy cellar: but they changed at last into birds and charming songstresses.

    Blog text (6)
  • The magician performed a charming trick that left the audience in awe.

  • The old story spoke of a charming spell that could transform a prince into a frog.

Synonyms

magical
vscharming
156 3.8

Having powers that people say come from witches or wizards

focuses more on relation to enchantment rather than vague powerlike qualities
magic
vscharming
  • Literature
53 5.5

Having power to make impossible things happen, as in stories

is used more generally for supernatural relation, not only in stories
enchanted
vscharming
48 5.6

Under a magic spell or having a very pleasant, magical feeling

refers more to active relation or use of supernatural power rather than being affected
enchanting
vscharming
22 3.7

Very attractive in a way that feels like magic

concerns appeal that feels supernatural rather than actual relation to powers
witchy
vscharming
  • Informal
5 6.1

Having a strange, magical feel that seems dark or mysterious

is used more widely for general supernatural relation, not folk mystery
bewitching
vscharming
1 6.6

Very attractive in a way that seems to cast a spell

focuses on actual relation to supernatural power rather than on mere attractive effect
wizardly
vscharming
1 9.4

Having magical powers like a wizard

is broader, applying to supernatural relation beyond any single practitioner type
sorcerous
vscharming
  • Literature
1 9.9

Having magic powers like those in stories

is the general supernatural relation, not limited to that single practitioner sense
wizard
vscharming
1 7.5

Related to magic, like a spell

places special emphasis on enchantment rather than general otherworldly force
witching
vscharming
  • Archaic
1 8.8

Having strange magic that seems to affect people or places

is broader, covering supernatural relation beyond folk practice associations

Antonyms

80 4.3

Ordinary daily things or events that are not special and often feel boring

5 2.0

A person or thing that is not special

Compounds

Prince Charming
  • Informal
27 4.9

A man who seems perfect as a partner in love, like in fairy tales

A friendly, attractive way of behaving that makes people like you

charming minx
  • Informal
8.4

A woman who teases people in a playful, attractive way

8.2

A likable person who plays small tricks and breaks rules for fun

How Magical

magical
156 3.8
bewitched
1 7.4
charming
8 8.2
enchanted
48 5.6
mysterious
498 5.1
ordinary
5 2.0

Surface Forms

charming positive
charminger comparative
charmingest superlative

Morphology

charming = charm (semi-transparent) = charm + ing

The form is clearly charm + -ing, but the supernatural meaning ('to cast a spell') is a specialized sense that is not the primary modern sense for many learners.

Etymology

Charming also keeps an older idea of charm as a small 'spell' or magic object, from when people used songs or words in rituals. That's why charming can also mean having supernatural power or being like a 'spell'.