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Glite Dictionary
talismanic

talismanic

1 9.6
People think it protects or brings good luck like a charm
  • adjective
  • /ˌtælɪsˈmænɪk/
: talismánico
  • The amulet was believed to have talismanic properties that protected its wearer from harm.

Odysseus, with help, steals the talismanic statue of Athena from Troy, the Palladium.

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Examples

  • Many people carry talismanic charms as a way to feel secure during challenging times.

  • Against Brooklyn, the Celtics were also without Rajon Rondo, the NBA's assist leader and the talismanic guide of their offense.

    Blog text (10)

  • Those early years of adult married independence remain talismanic because we had so few responsibilities.

    Blog text (9)

  • "There's a sort of talismanic quality to that term.

    Blog text (23)

  • And you know that it, it imbues so much power, almost talismanic magical power to a word.

    Tom Bilyeu

  • Words were talismanic, transfiguring, making everything clearer and at the same time more complex.

    Blog text (11)

  • The problem, Ken, is that for left-anarchists, freedom is a talismanic word and not an understood or treasured concept.

    Blog text (33)

  • Odysseus, with help, steals the talismanic statue of Athena from Troy, the Palladium.

    Stanford

  • Patrick Kavanagh's poem "Epic" has talismanic importance to older Irish poets who took from the following lines license to write about the minutiae of their own locales:

    Academic text (2015)

  • Ancient cultures often created talismanic objects to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.

Synonyms

magic
vstalismanic
  • Literature
599 5.5

Having power to make impossible things happen, as in stories

is focused on believed protection rather than narrative supernatural powers
magical
vstalismanic
217 3.8

Having powers that people say come from witches or wizards

is more about protective belief and use than general supernatural quality
apotropaic
vstalismanic
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Made to keep away evil or bad luck

includes that protective aim but also covers general believed supernatural power
amuletic
vstalismanic
1 9.8

A small object people use to protect themselves and bring good luck

is broader, describing protective or supernatural power beyond just objects

Antonyms

ordinary
4 2.0

A person or thing that is not special

unmagical
1 6.0

Not having magic or a feeling of wonder

How Magical

enchanted
43 5.6
talismanic
1 9.6
ordinary
4 2.0

Surface Forms

talismanic positive

Morphology

talismanic = talisman (transparent) = talisman + ic

Derived directly from 'talisman' + the adjectival suffix '-ic', so the meaning 'relating to or having the power of a talisman' is predictable.

Etymology

Talismanic comes from talisman, a word for a small 'magic charm' people carry to bring luck or protection. That older word came into English from Greek and Arabic words meaning a 'sacred sign', so talismanic means having the power of a protective charm.