characterizes

present tense third-person singular of characterize
1
as in describes
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
2
as in distinguishes
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 characterizes The younger Paul’s relationship with Braunstein, however, was cold — ever since Les Paul died in 2009 of severe pneumonia complications amid what Gene characterizes as communication issues between Braunstein and the family. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2026 Yet recent rhetoric from City Hall characterizes CARE as a success. — Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 While the same anthropologists also emphasize that some hunter-gatherers are very unequal and that equality takes deliberate effort, the prevailing impression is that equality characterizes hunter-gatherers, past and present. — Christopher Von Rueden, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2026 Fortescue characterizes Aston’s stance as a minority opinion. — Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 In a defense memo, Pattis characterizes Diamantis as a broken and financially ruined former politician and lawyer who at 70 might not survive a long prison sentence. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026 The same patchwork that characterizes the languages and architecture of the city can also be seen in its class structure. — Benjamin Moser, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2026 Foam conjures the fragile sturdiness that characterizes both Hesse’s sculpture and Zambreno’s own vacillation between precarity and privilege. — Catherine G. Wagley, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 The research characterizes the industry as roughly two years behind travelers in adoption. — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterizes
Verb
  • The term describes people whose reaction to not knowing is far more intense than the situation warrants.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The popular term generally describes a softer physique with extra weight around the midsection.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • While many operational details remain undisclosed, the military’s confirmation of the hit and distance distinguishes this shot from several longer claims.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
  • So far this follows a familiar pattern, but what distinguishes the Left Book Club was its emphasis on activism.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Guitarricadelafuente portrays Sebastián, the focus of the film’s central timeline set during the Spanish Civil War.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The spinoff, which portrays Gibbs as an up-and-comer in the early ’90s, has intimately involved Harmon as an executive producer and narrator, but not so much an on-screen presence until a present-day flash-forward story was added for season 3.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Here’s what defines it, and where to find it around metro Atlanta.
    — Su-Jit Lin, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Last but not least, Question 3 asks voters whether to change how the state defines its congressional districts, paving the way for redistricting in the coming years.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Characterizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterizes. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster