1
as in tracing
to draw or make apparent the outline of
the glass skyscraper's sleek silhouette was strikingly defined by the setting sun to its west
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in describing
to mark the limits of
the river defines the town on the south
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in characterizing
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
a woman who is defined by her unswerving loyalty to her friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in specifying
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
let me define the task so that there is no doubt in your minds about what needs to be done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defining
But the potentially season-defining stretch can’t be at the forefront of their minds now.
—
Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
If you’re hooked on Ryan Murphy’s Love Story, a slate of classic and recent series deliver the same 1990s glamour, New York energy and era-defining style.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
But the defining difference is that the indoctrinated are constantly at war.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 4 Mar. 2026
Her Grammy-winning debut album, Invasion of Privacy, cemented her as a defining voice in contemporary rap, blending brash humor, confessional storytelling and club-ready production.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
The slasher series, which kicked off nearly 30 years ago with Wes Craven's zeitgeist-defining original, just opened its seventh entry to a franchise-best $97 million globally.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
The defining feature of gray zone action lies in its relationship to escalation rather than magnitude.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026
Annabel Schofield, who went from being a defining face of 1980s London fashion to playing Laurel Ellis opposite Larry Hagman on the popular Dallas primetime soap, has died.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers in Connecticut still see it as the defining affordability issue, with the hopes that a renewal of the federal subsidies can still happen.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 25 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
If you’re hooked on Ryan Murphy’s Love Story, a slate of classic and recent series deliver the same 1990s glamour, New York energy and era-defining style.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
But the defining difference is that the indoctrinated are constantly at war.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 4 Mar. 2026
Her Grammy-winning debut album, Invasion of Privacy, cemented her as a defining voice in contemporary rap, blending brash humor, confessional storytelling and club-ready production.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
The slasher series, which kicked off nearly 30 years ago with Wes Craven's zeitgeist-defining original, just opened its seventh entry to a franchise-best $97 million globally.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
The defining feature of gray zone action lies in its relationship to escalation rather than magnitude.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026
Annabel Schofield, who went from being a defining face of 1980s London fashion to playing Laurel Ellis opposite Larry Hagman on the popular Dallas primetime soap, has died.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers in Connecticut still see it as the defining affordability issue, with the hopes that a renewal of the federal subsidies can still happen.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defining
Verb
-
Jonathan Martin, a meteorologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been tracking the size of this cold pool, tracing it back to when such reliable data began in the 1940s.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Someone investigating a leak may be able to discover you by tracing your habits.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To understand how federal agents are using various Department of Homeland Security surveillance tools in real time, NPR collected dozens of accounts — through interviews and court documents — describing confrontations with federal immigration officers in recent months.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2026
-
And Kim added that he was distracted playing video games at times when Chan was describing the deadly plot to his friends.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The latest research indicates that re-evaluation of the methodology of existing assessments for characterizing sea-level rise impact is needed, the paper noted.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Some rank-and-file cops also disagreed with how the mayor is characterizing the incident.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In another cost-cutting move, Papa John's also reduced its corporate workforce by 7%, Thanawala said Thursday, without specifying when the layoffs occurred or if further cuts were planned.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The festival said the Official Selection of the 79th edition will be unveiled mid-April without specifying a date.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The department also has launched a new web page outlining immigrants’ rights during encounters with law enforcement.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The Lake County Convention Center is another step closer to being built after the Gary Common Council unanimously approved an ordinance outlining the city’s involvement in the project’s financing.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Photos shared by the department show a silvery gray fox bounding majestically across a white snowy plain beneath towering, sunlit alpine peaks.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Mars is bounding into your partnership zone, which invites assertive boundary talks that protect your generous spirit while keeping agreements fair for all involved parties.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Not all of it works, but Bale is essentially perfect, portraying both the innocence and the increasing alienation of his young hero.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Popular culture has long elevated certain women by portraying others as rivals, obstacles or villains.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To ease the transition, experts recommend adjusting sleep schedules gradually, limiting caffeine intake, and using light exposure strategically to help the body adapt to the new time.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Many homeowners who locked in ultra-low borrowing costs during the early years of the pandemic have been reluctant to sell and take on significantly higher rates, limiting the number of homes for sale and keeping prices elevated.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defining. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
