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
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Recent Examples of characterized
The ambition is laudable and has characterized this institution from the beginning.
—
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Yes, their courtship was singular, sweeping and at times volatile, but I was mostly struck by the acute disconnect between the way they were posthumously characterized by friends and family and the often misogynistic, reductive narrative that surrounded them at the time.
—Connor Hines, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Both are characterized by dramatic mountains that rise up out of the sea.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026
The pessimism exists for good reason, as Brazil’s journey to the World Cup was characterized by scandals off the pitch and underperformance on it.
—Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
The result was a garden characterized by eucalyptus, olive, carrotwood, crape myrtle, acacia and pepper trees along with plumbago, pride of Madeira, oleander, ivy and other species readily available in the 1980s.
—Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026
The artist, born in 1937 in Bradford, England, produced a singular body of work characterized by ultrasaturated colors and an innovative painterly perspective.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2026
Lilly’s career in Hollywood is characterized by making very limited and specific choices.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 12 June 2026
It is characterized by high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and rashes or bumps that appear seven to 14 days after exposure.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Yes, their courtship was singular, sweeping and at times volatile, but I was mostly struck by the acute disconnect between the way they were posthumously characterized by friends and family and the often misogynistic, reductive narrative that surrounded them at the time.
—Connor Hines, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Both are characterized by dramatic mountains that rise up out of the sea.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026
The pessimism exists for good reason, as Brazil’s journey to the World Cup was characterized by scandals off the pitch and underperformance on it.
—Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
The result was a garden characterized by eucalyptus, olive, carrotwood, crape myrtle, acacia and pepper trees along with plumbago, pride of Madeira, oleander, ivy and other species readily available in the 1980s.
—Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026
The artist, born in 1937 in Bradford, England, produced a singular body of work characterized by ultrasaturated colors and an innovative painterly perspective.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2026
Lilly’s career in Hollywood is characterized by making very limited and specific choices.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 12 June 2026
It is characterized by high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and rashes or bumps that appear seven to 14 days after exposure.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterized
Verb
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Last May, after playing through pain in his right hand, a slumping Alvarez was sidelined with what the team described as a muscle strain.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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Rondeau described her father as a devoted dad who took her to volleyball and softball practice, went camping with her and taught her about the outdoors.—
Nick Lunemann,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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They are most easily distinguished by looking at the base of the plant—citronella grass has a reddish color, while lemongrass is entirely green.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
13 June 2026
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Year after year, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have distinguished themselves as enduring beauty and fashion icons.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Based on the real-life author, the second-oldest Ingalls daughter is portrayed as a tomboy and animal lover with a big heart.—
Kelly Martinez,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
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Set in Punjab, the series centres on two brothers – Bobby and Bunty Manocha, played by Shaheer and Mishra respectively – whose lives are upended after Bunty vanishes following an encounter with a powerful figure named Goldy, portrayed by Kapoor.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Fable 5, in particular, marked the first time that Anthropic released such an advanced offering to the public, thanks to new safeguards that block responses in specific high-risk areas.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
13 June 2026
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Balogun's big night marked a historic moment in one of the more fascinating American soccer stories in USMNT history.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
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It will be defined by who constructs the systems that allow both to scale together—and who had the capital, the patience, and the mandate to start building before anyone else.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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Boxy, Straight-Lined Furniture Sharp angles and rigid silhouettes once defined contemporary interiors, but designers are increasingly embracing softer forms.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Characterized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterized. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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