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
Free-market conservatives argue that price controls distort markets, destroy production incentives, and produce the gas lines that characterized the 1970s energy crisis.
—
David S. Cohen, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
The American strikes were the second set this week of what Washington has characterized as defensive actions, with the most recent ones hitting Iranian drones and a launch site.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 28 May 2026
Management teams should enact formal processes to regularly evaluate venturing possibilities, ensuring their organizations consider a strategic mix that addresses long-term goals while preparing for the bouts of uncertainty and change that often characterize business conditions.
—Serguei Netessine, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also characterized talks as ongoing.
—Mark Osborne, CBS News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for characterize
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David S. Cohen, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
The American strikes were the second set this week of what Washington has characterized as defensive actions, with the most recent ones hitting Iranian drones and a launch site.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 28 May 2026
Management teams should enact formal processes to regularly evaluate venturing possibilities, ensuring their organizations consider a strategic mix that addresses long-term goals while preparing for the bouts of uncertainty and change that often characterize business conditions.
—Serguei Netessine, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also characterized talks as ongoing.
—Mark Osborne, CBS News, 28 May 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 3 Jun. 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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