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
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Recent Examples of portrayal
But while there's a certain amount of shock and awe to the portrayal of this very unique life, there's a lot of humor and heart, too.
—
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
The film’s queerness extends beyond Palmer’s portrayal of out lesbian Emerald Haywood; in addition to being a commentary on the way the entertainment industry consumes us, Nope is also about otherness.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
This self-portrayal extended to his political identity.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
The film is a clear influence on Trouble Every Day (see below) in its portrayal of vampirism as an all-consuming and painful condition, rather than a romantic one.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
The film’s queerness extends beyond Palmer’s portrayal of out lesbian Emerald Haywood; in addition to being a commentary on the way the entertainment industry consumes us, Nope is also about otherness.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
This self-portrayal extended to his political identity.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
The film is a clear influence on Trouble Every Day (see below) in its portrayal of vampirism as an all-consuming and painful condition, rather than a romantic one.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayal
Noun
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This article discusses Ed Gein’s crimes, as well as transphobic depictions of them on screen.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
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So no wonder that his engagement with the human cost of rapid industrialization in early 20th century Bohemia fed into his depiction in the novel of social conditions in robber-baron America.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The video player page includes a description, links to similar content, and the ability to give a film a thumbs up or thumbs down.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
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The 89-minute film also featured Swift's descriptions of each song playing before lyric videos for the new tracks.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The same could be said of Piccioli, whose muses include the French actor Isabelle Huppert — portraits of whom were shared as a teaser prior to the show.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
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On Instagram through the years, he's shared many glimpses into that time in his life, from school portraits and prom pics to Christmas memories and beyond.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This wants to be a #MeToo drama that forces you to confront both bigger-picture assumptions and your own biases.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Oct. 2025
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Tensions are brewing between Grapevine officials and the Grapevine-Colleyville school district over possible campus closures and whether the district is being transparent about its financial picture.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayal. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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