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
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2
as in distinguishes
to be an important feature of
an unsightly rash characterizes chicken pox
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of characterizes
Sandro Petraglia’s script characterizes him as a dashing rogue out of his depth, an artistic genius in an illicit trade, a disco-loving womanizer, all of which Castellitto performs with confidence.
—
Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
After his almost one-year hiatus, the Puerto Rican artist makes his comeback with a suave Afrobeats that evokes romanticism and desire—a shift from the flirty reggaetón sound that best characterizes him.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2026
However, no one has been executed in South Korea since 1997, and leniency characterizes appeals results.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Trump’s domestic political gift is the feral instinct for weakness that characterizes most authoritarians.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
The initiative presents itself as targeting problematic practices within the personal injury legal system, with language attacking contingency fee arrangements that the company characterizes as self-dealing and designed to artificially inflate medical claims.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Thankfully, after expending serious overtime up front, the design crew lightened its hand over the rest of the truck, which remains a stout, sturdy pickup without the over-accentuation that characterizes the new US-market Tundra and Tacoma.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
As a coach, Armas, 53, characterizes himself as patient but demanding.
—Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2026
Coach has never been one to miss an opportunity for self-aggrandizement, and this quote effectively characterizes his three previous Survivor appearances not as failures but as bold attempts to tame a raging sea.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
After his almost one-year hiatus, the Puerto Rican artist makes his comeback with a suave Afrobeats that evokes romanticism and desire—a shift from the flirty reggaetón sound that best characterizes him.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2026
However, no one has been executed in South Korea since 1997, and leniency characterizes appeals results.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Trump’s domestic political gift is the feral instinct for weakness that characterizes most authoritarians.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
The initiative presents itself as targeting problematic practices within the personal injury legal system, with language attacking contingency fee arrangements that the company characterizes as self-dealing and designed to artificially inflate medical claims.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Thankfully, after expending serious overtime up front, the design crew lightened its hand over the rest of the truck, which remains a stout, sturdy pickup without the over-accentuation that characterizes the new US-market Tundra and Tacoma.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
As a coach, Armas, 53, characterizes himself as patient but demanding.
—Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2026
Coach has never been one to miss an opportunity for self-aggrandizement, and this quote effectively characterizes his three previous Survivor appearances not as failures but as bold attempts to tame a raging sea.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterizes
Verb
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Jordan describes the relationship between chef and winemaker as a constant dialogue, a feedback loop that ensures every pairing expresses the wine’s architecture, not just its flavor profile.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The company describes its approach as a two-step process.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Automet Pleated Long-Sleeve Blouse Shoppers have praised this long-sleeve blouse for its soft, wrinkle-resistant fabric and subtle pleating on the front that distinguishes it from your average tee.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
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Third, the explicit focus on continual learning from human corrections during operation distinguishes it from models that require retraining to incorporate new behaviors.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Aristidou portrays these interactions with a dose of bittersweet ambivalence.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
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Inspired by real stories, Eva Marcille portrays a wife who miraculously cheats death after her husband’s (Tyler Lepley) betrayal in Pushed Off a Plane and Survived airing on February 28.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The $64,000 is — who defines the goals of AI?—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The cream did create a slightly hard cast after a few hours (which is expected of any product that defines), but my hair still looked and felt very soft.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Characterizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterizes. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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