mantra means the hymn portions of the Vedas; any passage of these used as a prayer. It carries an Arena rating of 1999, earned across 75 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, mantra ranks #62 of 42,752 for Qualifying, #228 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #315 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #584 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words.
mantra is pronounced /ˈmæn.tɹə/.
Why “mantra” is a great word
A sacred word, sound, or phrase, often repeated in prayer or meditation, or a frequently repeated statement or slogan. From Sanskrit मन्त्र (mantra, 'sacred formula, instrument of thought'), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *mántras, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *men- ('to think'). Unlike an affirmation, which is a self-directed tool for shaping belief, or a chant, which names the act of rhythmic vocalization, a mantra is the specific, formulaic unit of sound or thought that is uttered—the vessel itself. It is the monk's breath synchronized to *om*, the rosary's mechanical glide through decades of Hail Marys, and the corporate slogan drilled into employees until it replaces independent thought: a verbal talisman, worn smooth by repetition, against the chaos of the unthinking world.
Etymology
Borrowed from Sanskrit मन्त्र (mantra), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *mántras, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think”). Related to mind.
noun
- The hymn portions of the Vedas; any passage of these used as a prayer.
- A phrase repeated to assist concentration during meditation.
- A slogan or phrase often repeated.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- gayatri 56% match — A composition in the Gayatri metre. vs mantra →
- gatha 55% match — A poem or mantra, especially one recited mentally as part of meditation or mindfulness practice. vs mantra →
- kirtan 54% match — A call-and-response chant performed in India's devotional traditions. vs mantra →
- dharani 53% match — A Buddhist chant or incantation. vs mantra →
- samhita 53% match — The basic metrical (mantra) text of a Veda. vs mantra →
- shanti 52% match — A call for peace, often recited three times as a prayer for peace of the soul. vs mantra →
- norito 51% match — A liturgical text or ritual incantation in Shinto, usually addressed to a specific kami. vs mantra →
- chanting 51% match — Singing, especially as a chant is sung. vs mantra →