Thesaurus results for PORTRAYAL

portrayal

noun

pȯr-ˈtrā(-ə)l

Definition of portrayal

as in depiction

a vivid representation in words of someone or something his novel presents a moving portrayal of a woman searching for personal fulfillment and happiness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 portrayal The defendants contend that allowing a defamation case to proceed on that basis could open the door for documentary subjects who are unhappy with their portrayal to challenge filmmakers' editorial decisions. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026 Her warts-and-all portrayal is a striking exercise in empathy and generosity. — Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026 But in his armchair detective work, Hoffmann discovered aspects of his mother that stood in stark contrast to that portrayal. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026 Williams won a Canadian Screen Award for his portrayal of Shane. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portrayal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayal

Noun

Attraction is the point—the promise of fulfillment, rather than its depiction, is the reward.

— Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
For her, the novel’s depiction of Haitian life in Miami is immediately recognizable.

— Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of depiction

Noun

Wildlife officers found a female bear in the area matching the description and euthanized her, as per CPW policy.

— Christa Swanson, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
These form the spine of the book, interwoven with descriptions of swims of varying lengths in a very wide range of locales—rivers, waterfalls, ponds, different coves and beaches, each different and beautifully captured for the reader.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of description

Noun

Kristinka Lazar, for example, used the time as an artistic residency to create a collection of paintings called The Gift of Being Seen, featuring 45 portraits of local villagers.

— Liz Provencher, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
Watermelon was founded in 2024 by brothers Badie and Hamza Ali to present more complex portraits of Palestinians and Arabs.

— Brent Lang, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of portrait

Noun

Members also flagged strong anticipation from North American press and said a Netflix awards team is preparing a campaign for the film that extends to a best picture push.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
Live video is relayed to law enforcement, giving them a clear picture of what’s going on before officers enter the school.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of picture

Browse Nearby Words

portray

portrayal

portrayals

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“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayal. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of portrayal

noun

Example Sentences

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