charisma

noun

cha·ris·ma kə-ˈriz-mə

: a personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm for a public figure (such as a political leader)

His success was largely due to his charisma.

: a special magnetic charm or appeal

the charisma of a popular actor

Did you know?

The Greek word charisma means "favor" or "gift." It comes from the verb charizesthai ("to favor"), which in turn comes from the noun charis, meaning "grace." In English, charisma was originally used in Christian contexts to refer to a gift or power bestowed upon an individual by the Holy Spirit for the good of the Church—a sense that is now very rare. These days, we use the word to refer to social, rather than divine, grace. For instance, a leader with charisma may easily gain popular support, and a job applicant with charisma may shine in an interview.

Examples of charisma in a Sentence

The candidate was lacking in charisma. His success is largely due to his charisma.

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

The standout among the neo-murder balladeers is the topical folk singer Jesse Welles, whose delivery and persona takes John Prine’s craggy empathy and adds a tincture of Brian Jones’s sinister charisma. —

Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024 With his unmatched charisma and comedic brilliance, Toad is destined to be the funniest movie ever. —

Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024 Bringing in dramatic chromatics to reflect the couple’s charisma was a primary focus, as was toggling between Americana and gothic English design for a splash of irreverence suiting a rock star and supermodel. —

Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 11 Dec. 2024 Elsewhere in the story, Clark's friends and teammates called attention to her charisma and seldom-talked-about sense of humor. —

Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for charisma