characterized

verb

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 The administration has almost always characterized Iran never getting a nuclear weapon as the overriding concern. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026 In ordinary tax terminology, income, property, and estate taxes are often described as direct taxes, while sales, excise, and customs duties are generally characterized as indirect taxes. — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 This area was characterized by territory disputes between the Jats, the Rohillas, and other regional powers. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer ocean waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, coupled with changing atmospheric conditions, in which the typical east-to-west trade winds weaken or even reverse. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026 The drug’s real-world safety profile appears worse than what was characterized in the small clinical trial. — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 13 Aug. 2026 And that friendship group is sort of characterized in Frankie. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 Trump and his people operated under the kind of paranoia and callous disregard for military and civilian lives that have characterized the president’s time in office. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026 All those relationships and the powerplay that characterized that period. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterized
  1. described
  2. distinguished
  3. portrayed
  4. marked
  5. defined
Verb
  • The untimely death of Hayden Panettiere, a onetime child star who soared to fame while navigating addiction and postpartum depression in her adult life, came just months after the beloved actor described feeling ready to start over.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Though the war in Gaza was not a central campaign issue, Wahab has criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza and described it as a genocide.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of described
Verb
  • The section showcases nonfiction storytelling distinguished by cinematic craft, insight, and cultural relevance.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Her position has at times distinguished her from other Republicans as immigration remains a major issue for the party.
    — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of distinguished
Verb
  • Wuornos, a serial killer who murdered seven men in 1989 and 1990, was previously portrayed by Charlize Theron in the 2003 film Monster.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026
  • As so often, the new stadium was portrayed as a symbol of a brighter future.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of portrayed
Verb
  • Trump has branded his second presidency as one focused on cost-cutting, marked by early federal agency job cuts ordered by the nongovernmental Department of Government Efficiency.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Buckeyes swept that series before the two sides met again in the 1988 NIT championship at Madison Square Garden, a 72-67 triumph for the Huskies that marked UConn’s first title in a national postseason event.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of marked
Verb
  • That was the beginning of three championships in four years, and the run-heavy program defined by the full house/wing T formation had taken off.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Some of the electric bikes the public sees aren’t defined as such by state law.
    — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of defined

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Cite this Entry

“Characterized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterized. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of characterized for Spanish Speakers

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