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charisma
[ kuh-riz-muh ]
noun
- Theology. a divinely conferred gift or power.
- a spiritual power or personal quality that gives an individual influence or authority over large numbers of people.
- the special virtue of an office, function, position, etc., that confers or is thought to confer on the person holding it an unusual ability for leadership, worthiness of veneration, or the like.
charisma
/ ˈkærɪzəm; kəˈrɪzmə; ˌkærɪzˈmætɪk /
noun
- a special personal quality or power of an individual making him capable of influencing or inspiring large numbers of people
- a quality inherent in a thing which inspires great enthusiasm and devotion
- Christianity a divinely bestowed power or talent
charisma
- Extraordinary power and appeal of personality ; natural ability to inspire a large following.
Notes
Derived Forms
- charismatic, adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of charisma1
Example Sentences
As she writes in her new collection, “Notorious,” “I’ve always been fascinated by how powerful people wield power, how charismatic people create charisma, how talented people nurture or squander their talent.”
Smith effortlessly blends charisma, passion, knowledge, controversy, humor and emotion to provoke conversation and debate.
The answer, he figured, was a combination of charisma and an ability to intuit what a person wants to talk about.
When it was released, the Observer said the album had "a winning combination of zingers and vulnerability", and the Telegraph said it showed "all of the grit and charisma of a seasoned artist".
“His humbleness and charisma shined through,” said Panek, 25, now a nurse at a burn intensive care unit at a Dallas hospital.
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More About Charisma
What does charisma mean?
Charisma is the magnetic and charming personal quality that draws people to someone.
People who have an outgoing, energetic, and likable personality that seems to naturally draw other people to them are said to have charisma. Such people are often described with the adjective form of the word, charismatic.
A person with charisma is thought to be able to easily influence others. Charisma is most often used in a positive way as a compliment, but it is sometimes used to imply that someone’s appeal is based entirely on their outgoing personality, rather than the substance of their actions or their character.
The word is also used in a religious context in a more specific way to refer to a spiritual gift or a special ability for leadership. This sense of the word is sometimes seen as charism, and can be pluralized as charismata.
Example: People like a candidate who’s got charisma and can get them excited, not someone who just drones on about facts and figures.
Where does charisma come from?
The first records of the word charisma come from the 1600s. It comes from the Greek kharisma, meaning “grace” or “favor.” The term was originally used in a religious sense in reference to a type of spiritual quality.
Someone who has charisma can command a room and have everyone hanging on their every word. The word implies that a person can easily attract followers. For this reason, charismatic people are especially successful in politics, entertainment, romance, and any other activity that involves winning people over.
Someone who’s especially charismatic may be said to have charisma to burn—meaning they have an abundance of charisma. However, saying that someone has charisma doesn’t necessarily mean that they use this power for good. Con artists, cult leaders, and crooked politicians can be described as charismatic.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to charisma?
- charism (alternate spelling)
- charismata (plural)
- charismatic (adjective)
What are some synonyms for charisma?
What are some words that share a root or word element with charisma?
What are some words that often get used in discussing charisma?
How is charisma used in real life?
Charisma is typically used in a positive way to compliment someone’s personality. It’s most often used in reference to people who are easily likeable.
Newcomer Rosie Wyatt has charisma to burn in nabokov's BUNNY. Hugely compelling – one to watch. #wosed #edfringe
— WhatsOnStage (@WhatsOnStage) August 23, 2010
No amount of charisma can overcome a dearth of character.
— Kevin DeYoung (@RevKevDeYoung) June 29, 2016
Very true. Charisma alone or projected confidence, or even "fake it until you make it" will leave a trail of disaster.
— Rodger Kendrick (@RodgerKendrick) February 27, 2020
Try using charisma!
Which of the following things would it be easy for a person with charisma to get people to do?
A. like them
B. listen to them
C. follow them
D. all of the above
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