characterize
verb
char·ac·ter·ize
ˈker-ik-tə-ˌrīz 
ˈka-rik-
characterized; characterizing
1
: to describe the character (see character entry 1 sense 1a) or quality of
characterizes him as ambitious
2
: to be a characteristic of : distinguish
an era characterized by greed
Examples of characterize in a Sentence
How would you characterize the situation?
I would characterize this as a positive change for our company.
She had difficulty characterizing their relationship.
His personality is hard to characterize.
Farms and large flat fields characterize most of the area.
the beliefs that characterized Europe in the 15th century
Recent Examples on the Web
The Department of Homeland Security characterized the shooting of Renee Good as a justified response, with Secretary Kristi Noem stating that Good attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon against an immigration officer.
—
Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
They may be characterized by one main squall or multiple squalls.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Several former heads of the central bank have come out against the move, characterizing it as an attempt to undermine the independence of the Federal Reserve, which is authorized by Congress to set monetary policy independent of the President's wishes.
—Time, 14 Jan. 2026
His recent ascent has been characterized by multiple elements.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for characterize
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Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
They may be characterized by one main squall or multiple squalls.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Several former heads of the central bank have come out against the move, characterizing it as an attempt to undermine the independence of the Federal Reserve, which is authorized by Congress to set monetary policy independent of the President's wishes.
—Time, 14 Jan. 2026
His recent ascent has been characterized by multiple elements.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for characterize
Cite this Entry
“Characterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characterize. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
characterize
verb
char·ac·ter·ize
ˈkar-ik-tə-ˌrīz
characterized; characterizing
1
: to point out the character of an individual or group : describe
characterize him as ambitious
2
: to be characteristic of
tragic endings characterized her stories
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