Thesaurus results for CHARACTERIZED

characterized

verb

past tense of characterize

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

Relevance

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 However, as his political movement is characterized as free-market and libertarian, these voters are also more likely to trend to Bolsonaro. — David Unsworth, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 Coined in 2019 by The New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino, the phrase refers to a look characterized by a small button nose, high cheekbones and pouty lips. — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026 El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that spur changes in the atmosphere that can affect weather around the world. — Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 Physical description The oyamel fir is characterized by its straight gray trunk and narrow conical crown and typically grows between 40 and 60 meters (130–200 feet) tall. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 In fact, the uptrend since the March lows has been characterized by multiple bearish patterns that ultimately failed. — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 Davis characterized the post as an endorsement of professional consequences for lawyers based on their political activity. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026 The statement was characterized in the press alternately as a denouncement, a repudiation and a disavowal. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026 Gap’s signature Cashsoft line is characterized by its midweight, plush options that feel as soft as cashmere without a hefty price tag. — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 22 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterized

Verb

His administration has described the agreements as historic, but the raises secured by the two groups of first responders differ considerably.

— Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Prominent Democrats and Republicans have described the midterm elections in near-apocalyptic terms.

— James Speyer, New York Daily News, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of described

Verb

His reporting — first at the Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram, then over 37 years at The Times — distinguished The Times as a national source for baseball coverage.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Sondheim’s implicit possibilities were broad; his explicit rules were narrow, emphasizing scene and storytelling at the expense of the delight in wit and melody that had long distinguished American songs from those of European operetta.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of distinguished

Verb

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office is suing an animal rescue organization that was once a favorite among Hollywood celebrities, alleging that its owner purchased dogs from puppy mills and portrayed them to adopters as animals that were rescued.

— Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
There were rumors that Crowley was involved in animal sacrifices and black magic, and headlines portrayed him as a Satanist.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of portrayed

Verb

Since then, it's been a rocky road for Coach Prime, marked by a disastrous 3-9 campaign in 2025 and a 2-5 start to 2026.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
His prior athletic participation form was marked for a change of schools for athletic purposes by Grapevine-Colleyville athletics.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of marked

Verb

Six additional states require registration of some firearms, such as handguns or those defined as assault weapons, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
While floods of images and their competing narratives have all but defined the digital age, this battleground of misinformation has had notable consequences in the region.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of defined

Browse Nearby Words

characterize

characterized

characterizes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Characterized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterized. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of characterized

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

wraith

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes