1
as in describing
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 distinguishing
to be an important feature of
an unsightly rash characterizes chicken pox
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of characterizing
But Rodriguez and Patacsil expressed skepticism about how other members were characterizing that advice.
—
Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2025
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, condemned the protest, characterizing it as an attempt to obstruct law enforcement operations.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
In an amicus brief filed to the Supreme Court, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and 12 other professional bodies argued that characterizing talk therapy as mere speech fundamentally misunderstands its therapeutic use and purpose.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2025
The show takes a major leap in characterizing the relationship between Gein and hardware store owner/manager Bernice Worden as romantic.
—Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
The young researchers inspired by that discovery are, today, leading the charge in discovering and characterizing thousands of exoplanets with some of the most expensive telescopes and space missions ever constructed.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Abarca says complaints overblown Abarca, at the time, welcomed the investigation, characterizing the complaints as overblown.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2025
Longtime Pentagon press corps members and press freedom groups roundly condemned the move, characterizing it as an alarming shift away from decades of precedent set by previous administrations.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 Sep. 2025
This study contributes to a growing body of research aimed at characterizing threats to the ocean’s apex predators.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 10 Sep. 2025
Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2025
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, condemned the protest, characterizing it as an attempt to obstruct law enforcement operations.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
In an amicus brief filed to the Supreme Court, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and 12 other professional bodies argued that characterizing talk therapy as mere speech fundamentally misunderstands its therapeutic use and purpose.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2025
The show takes a major leap in characterizing the relationship between Gein and hardware store owner/manager Bernice Worden as romantic.
—Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
The young researchers inspired by that discovery are, today, leading the charge in discovering and characterizing thousands of exoplanets with some of the most expensive telescopes and space missions ever constructed.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Abarca says complaints overblown Abarca, at the time, welcomed the investigation, characterizing the complaints as overblown.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2025
Longtime Pentagon press corps members and press freedom groups roundly condemned the move, characterizing it as an alarming shift away from decades of precedent set by previous administrations.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 Sep. 2025
This study contributes to a growing body of research aimed at characterizing threats to the ocean’s apex predators.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterizing
Verb
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Meller provided a concrete example of AI’s democratizing potential, describing how a scene that would have cost half his film’s budget and taken weeks with traditional effects was roughed out in five minutes using Kling AI.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Three Air Force employees are dead in what Ohio officials are describing as a double murder-suicide.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As America’s capital of both wine production and pleasant weather, California has any number of towns that capture this experience, each with distinguishing characteristics that suit different types of travelers.—
Justin Goldman,
AFAR Media,
24 Oct. 2025
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But in a market where definitional confusion obscures risk and competitive tensions drive narratives, distinguishing signal from noise is increasingly critical and difficult.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Actor Wilson Cruz cited Rebel Without a Cause as a massive influence on his life and career as a gay man portraying a gay character.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Star Kenzi Richardson spoke with Parents about her adventures portraying a teen vampire and making her dreams come true on Disney Channel.—
Allison McClain Merrill,
Parents,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Likewise, Kumiko Ogawa’s costumes include character-defining garments as well as elaborate getups for the plays, some of which are constructed for suspenseful onstage costume changes.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
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Once viewed as a sideline to his film and comedy career, Martin’s music has instead become a defining pillar.—
Russ Penuell,
Billboard,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Characterizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterizing. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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