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
Starr argues that authority is, paradoxically, characterized by the power to compel or persuade—but it is undermined by the need to resort to either.
—
Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Dangerous fire weather conditions were underway in Colorado and Wyoming’s foothills that had forecasters using the most dire language possible to characterize Friday’s fire threat.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Kennedy characterized the decision as both a public health and budgetary concern, arguing that the federal government should not subsidize foods that contribute to illness.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025
Coach has never been one to miss an opportunity for self-aggrandizement, and this quote effectively characterizes his three previous Survivor appearances not as failures but as bold attempts to tame a raging sea.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for characterize
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Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Dangerous fire weather conditions were underway in Colorado and Wyoming’s foothills that had forecasters using the most dire language possible to characterize Friday’s fire threat.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Kennedy characterized the decision as both a public health and budgetary concern, arguing that the federal government should not subsidize foods that contribute to illness.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025
Coach has never been one to miss an opportunity for self-aggrandizement, and this quote effectively characterizes his three previous Survivor appearances not as failures but as bold attempts to tame a raging sea.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for characterize
Cite this Entry
“Characterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characterize. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
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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