characterizing

present participle of characterize
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

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 characterizing However, Bartiromo's attorney, Bryan Freedman, has challenged reports characterizing her departure as a firing. Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026 All this coastal media was descending on this small town and characterizing it in terms of this one really bad thing. Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 But in the face of criticisms from Pelley, Vega and Alfonsi, who cited individual incidents, the network has pushed back on claims of interference, characterizing them as part of the editorial process. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026 Fazio hammered that note on a few occasions, characterizing Lamont’s tenure as one in which education is worse than when the governor started. Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026 That meant probing the components and characterizing their functions. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 The sources firmly rejected the draft declarations, characterizing them as publicity stunts designed to mock the league, sow division, and draw attention to the topic by demeaning others. Wayne Sterling, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 The 49ers did not have an update on the specific injury, characterizing it only as a rib issue. Matt Barrows, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026 Dana Johnson with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce also spoke in favor of the proposal, characterizing data centers as a form of infrastructure increasingly necessary for businesses, governments, schools and consumers. Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterizing
Verb
  • Patrick Clancy, the prosecution’s first witness, spent two days on the stand describing her downward spiral despite her efforts to seek psychiatric treatment.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Maresca has also probably muddied the waters by refusing to identify a preferred holding midfielder and describing both new players in similar terms.
    Sam Lee, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • This blind taste taste kit will guide them through distinguishing different bodies and flavors in five mystery single-origin roasted coffees.
    Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 8 Sep. 2026
  • However, recent scholarship posits that the structure was used as ordinary (rather than punitive) housing, and that the vulgar decor was in fact a distinguishing characteristic of the epoch.
    Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Saab was flown back to Venezuela, where Maduro’s regime publicly celebrated his return after spending years portraying him as a diplomat illegally detained by Washington.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Cox’s film is biased in Bill’s favor, portraying him as a lapdog whose love for this screeching, spiteful, beady-eyed woman is his great tragic flaw.
    Katie Rife, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • While some category-defining domain names will assuredly become tomorrow’s durable digital assets, some will prove to be mere expensive bets that the language market later drops.
    Michael Gargiulo, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Death turns into the defining theme of the episode, with the Grim Reaper stalking the Slow Horses in more ways than one.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Characterizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterizing. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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