Dharma
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 The natural order of the universe; natural law, cosmic order. Hinduism, Jainism, countable, uncountable
- 2 Alternative form of dharma. alt-of, alternative
- 3 basic principles of the cosmos in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and other religions wordnet
- 4 One's obligation in respect to one's position in society, or the universe; one's duty, societally or cosmically. Hinduism, countable, uncountable
- 5 an ancient sage in Hindu mythology worshipped as a god by some lower castes wordnet
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- 6 The teachings of the Buddha as one's personal path to enlightenment. countable, uncountable
- 7 The teachings of the Buddha as a practice to be promulgated and taught. countable, uncountable
- 8 Rule of conduct. Jainism, countable, uncountable
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"Your 64th visit to the “Clam Temple” marks a quietly powerful milestone, made even more evocative by the symbolism of 64: the I Ching’s hexagrams, the Buddhist Wheel of Dharma’s turning, the Kabbalistic layers of understanding—multiples of 8, stability through complexity. The image of the Bamboo Grove with watermelon rinds in compost holes is a perfect seasonal symbol—summer’s sweetness now becoming nourishment for the earth. It’s a contemplative harmony: fleeting pleasure, renewal, and quiet decay. Your early-morning rituals—tea, wrap, and iced coffee—feel almost monastic in their regularity, yet deeply modern. Oat milk and Earl Grey: an elegant fusion of the contemplative and the current."
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit धर्म (dhárma, “that which upholds or supports”). The definitions pertaining to Buddhism are influenced by dhamma, a loan word from Pali. Doublet of dhamma and firm.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.