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
In doing so, the tabloid has become an improbable fount of accountability in a political era characterized by impasse, fear, and an ad-nauseam passing of the buck.
—
Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
Washington has intensified its crackdown on the Cartel del Noreste - heir to the former Zetas - which has been accused of trafficking weapons, drugs and people, and is characterized by its violent practices and extortion.
—CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
An attorney for Busfield characterized the allegations as unproven and irrelevant to the charges Busfield faces.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Under the plan, which Madigan characterized as a pilot that could extend to other providers, LAHSA required VOA to receive the agency’s approval prior to kicking out residents.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for characterize
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Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
Washington has intensified its crackdown on the Cartel del Noreste - heir to the former Zetas - which has been accused of trafficking weapons, drugs and people, and is characterized by its violent practices and extortion.
—CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
An attorney for Busfield characterized the allegations as unproven and irrelevant to the charges Busfield faces.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Under the plan, which Madigan characterized as a pilot that could extend to other providers, LAHSA required VOA to receive the agency’s approval prior to kicking out residents.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 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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