characterized

past tense of characterize
1
as in described
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group how would you characterize the mission of this environmental organization?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in distinguished
to be an important feature of an unsightly rash characterizes chicken pox

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 characterized El Niño describes a pattern characterized by warmer water in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 In the public imagination, Novak Djokovic has tended to be characterized as the greatest defensive player in the history of men’s tennis, and, along with Andre Agassi, as the best returner. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 July 2026 The patriotism-to-cure-nationalism idea can be traced back to a classic essay by George Orwell, in which the writer characterized nationalism as a disease that grows on the ruins of religious faith and kinder, humbler forms of patriotism. Dominic Erdozain, Time, 3 July 2026 The standoff forces the platform to weigh compliance against a potentially expanding pattern of government control over social media — a tension that has also characterized India’s years-long friction with X over content-takedown orders. Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 The early American songs and tunes were characterized by their simplicity and portability. Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 Although rabies is characterized in media as causing unchecked fury, agitation and aggression are just two symptoms. Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 The two were married in 2015 and divorced in 2018, but characterized the split as amicable and have remained close. Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026 The bombings that have characterized the last few years of the last year of the ’60s have continued. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterized
Verb
  • One person, described only as a male, was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to fire officials.
    Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Investigators previously described the suspect as a man, but during a news conference on Friday, prosecutors said Berezovsk was allegedly dressed as a man during the package bomb attack.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Guard members, clearly distinguished by their military fatigues, have been seen walking throughout downtown Memphis on patrols and directing traffic during events.
    Lucas Finton, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • What must endure is the independence of judgment that has distinguished the American legal profession from its beginning.
    Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • But its ability to tolerate discomfort is its strength, particularly through its most original figure—Dahl’s friend and publisher Tom Maschler, deftly portrayed by Elliot Levey.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026
  • Read on to take a peek at the home of the iconic performers, who will be portrayed by Jude Law and Andrew Garfield in an upcoming Apple TV+ limited series, Wild Things, which began filming in Las Vegas earlier this year.
    Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • That primary became one of the loudest examples of an ongoing party divide marked by the base's growing frustration with Democratic leaders, particularly in Washington.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 July 2026
  • Dugan's case marked the first time that a state judge in Wisconsin went to trial on charges of obstructing immigration agents.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • Size representation on the runway this season was defined by a more fragmented set of ideals.
    Amy Francombe, Vogue, 6 July 2026
  • Remarkably, in a game defined by the South American team’s lack of sportsmanship, this became the first World Cup game in which a Paraguay player did not receive a yellow card since 1998.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026

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“Characterized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterized. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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