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characterizes

verb

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

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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

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 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 Pragmatism characterizes Taiwan’s approach to mainland China. — Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Many of the visions emerging out of Silicon Valley have been lifted wholesale from science fiction, but without the critical awareness that characterizes the genre — and without genuine openness to the unfamiliar. — Carline Tromp, The Dial, 18 Aug. 2026 Lou Reed modeled the sort of petulant sing-talking that characterizes her verses. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 Strada’s website characterizes the candidate as a successful businessman. — Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026 Google acknowledges that regulators are open to adjusting the rules, but Walker still characterizes this ruling as a threat to privacy, business trade secrets, and even national security. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterizes
  1. describes
  2. distinguishes
  3. portrays
  4. defines
Verb
  • The company describes the effort as part of a broader push to increase the pace of hypersonic testing.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Sandoval plays the Babaylan, a traditional Malay healer who Diaz describes as a lasting bridge between Filipinos and their pre-Hispanic, pre-Islamic Malay heritage.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of describes
Verb
  • Also a highlight of the four-day fair is the Silmo d’Or competition, which distinguishes 10 companies every year.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But is a more illuminating idea missing from his account of American sophistication, one that perhaps most neatly distinguishes it from older European kinds?
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of distinguishes
Verb
  • Anderson portrays a young woman caught between danger and redemption under Joe’s guidance.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Fearn portrays Owen, a young sound engineer, who falls in love with a girl in a nightclub, gets her number, and the next morning realizes one of the digits is missing.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of portrays
Verb
  • The state law defines such programs as those that develop proficiency in both English and another language by offering instruction in a classroom that is typically a mix of native speakers of English and of the other language.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • But there are times when the Eagles must trust that their franchise quarterback will make a play in ways that defy explanation, that somebody who defines himself by winning will make the winning plays.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of defines

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characterized
characterizes
characterizing
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Cite this Entry

“Characterizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterizes. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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