as in depiction
a vivid representation in words of someone or something
his novel presents a moving portrayal of a woman searching for personal fulfillment and happiness
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Recent Examples of portrayal
Lathan’s portrayal of Monica Wright remains one of cinema’s most influential depictions of Black female athletes.
—
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Feb. 2026
Hayes most recently won the leading actor Tony in 2023 for his portrayal of American pianist and composer Oscar Levant Good Night, Oscar.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
The film earned over $300 million at the box office, his portrayal of former NFL player Michael Oher gained praise while Bullock won Best Actress at the Oscars for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026
He is widely known for his portrayal of Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner's Oscar-winning film.
—CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Feb. 2026
Hayes most recently won the leading actor Tony in 2023 for his portrayal of American pianist and composer Oscar Levant Good Night, Oscar.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
The film earned over $300 million at the box office, his portrayal of former NFL player Michael Oher gained praise while Bullock won Best Actress at the Oscars for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026
He is widely known for his portrayal of Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner's Oscar-winning film.
—CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayal
Noun
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Following the movie’s Sundance premiere last year, Sweeney spoke to Deadline about creating a messy, relatable depiction of a gay character through Dennis.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
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Gone with the Wind earned Margaret Mitchell the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937, though many themes of the book are recognized as problematic today, including racist and stereotypical depictions of Black characters and the glorifications of slavery and the Civil War.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The name and description of the suspect have not been released, and Pittsburgh police are investigating.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
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City surveillance footage showed Coleman driving an ATV matching the vehicle’s description, according to the probable cause statement.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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My photographs—portraits, landscapes, still lives, and spaces both vast and claustrophobic—reveal cultural double standards and impermanence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
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Focusing on Mapplethorpe’s aesthetic research, the exhibition features over 200 works, tracing the evolution of Mapplethorpe’s visual language through themes like portraits, self-portraits, flowers and nudes.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Written and performed Kentucky natives Nick Jamerson and Kris Bentley, the this song is love note to Kentucky which paints a nostalgic picture of familiar landscapes like old barns, tobacco patches, and the specific, winding journey of the Kentucky Mountain Parkway.—
Kirby Adams,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
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Oliver Weiken—picture alliance/Getty Images As the top-scoring qualifier, Gremaud was the final competitor to take her first turn, following Gu.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayal. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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