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
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
The complaint characterizes the allegations as minor, noting that similar conduct is common at athletic events and other campus activities without disciplinary consequences.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025
While Guo reiterated China’s position on sensitive topics such as Taiwan – a self-ruling island democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory – his statement was otherwise cautiously neutral, lacking the vitriol that often characterizes Chinese responses to US policy.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
The launch marks a significant step in what the Navy characterizes as a sweeping effort to revitalize the nation’s maritime industrial base while driving technological innovation.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Dec. 2025
Washington characterizes the mission as a counter-narcotics effort.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Nov. 2025
The team seems to have found that elusive balance of confidence and calm, accountability and community, which characterizes many excellent teams.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
The voice of Julio Haro from La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho blends perfectly with that of Juanes, who, without abandoning his style, adds the intensity that characterizes a regional Mexican performance.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 14 Nov. 2025
The next step was to search for the higher-energy release of energy that stellar physicists believe characterizes the frequent CMEs from young stars.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Joe Reid, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
The complaint characterizes the allegations as minor, noting that similar conduct is common at athletic events and other campus activities without disciplinary consequences.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025
While Guo reiterated China’s position on sensitive topics such as Taiwan – a self-ruling island democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory – his statement was otherwise cautiously neutral, lacking the vitriol that often characterizes Chinese responses to US policy.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
The launch marks a significant step in what the Navy characterizes as a sweeping effort to revitalize the nation’s maritime industrial base while driving technological innovation.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Dec. 2025
Washington characterizes the mission as a counter-narcotics effort.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Nov. 2025
The team seems to have found that elusive balance of confidence and calm, accountability and community, which characterizes many excellent teams.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
The voice of Julio Haro from La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho blends perfectly with that of Juanes, who, without abandoning his style, adds the intensity that characterizes a regional Mexican performance.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 14 Nov. 2025
The next step was to search for the higher-energy release of energy that stellar physicists believe characterizes the frequent CMEs from young stars.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterizes
Verb
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Lopez describes her daughter as an energetic, talkative child who speaks both English and Spanish.—
Leondra Head,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Among the more moving cases that Blair describes are those of people who in life were vulnerable and powerless but in death were considered formidable threats.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pack argued that quality is precisely what distinguishes his film from modern, perhaps more politicized documentaries on Najaf and Fallujah.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Liu distinguishes between different forms of industry validation.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Mekia Cox, who portrays Nyla Harper, wed basketball analyst Britt Leach in 2018, according to The Knot.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Arnett, Cooper, and Mark Chappell cowrote the screenplay, and Cooper portrays Balls, Alex's actor friend who serves as the film's comic relief.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This expanding screen defines the Legion Pro Rollable concept.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
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Locals cherish the balance between welcoming visitors and preserving the serenity that defines their hometowns.—
Amplified Content Studio,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Characterizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterizes. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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