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
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
Putin dismissed Western accusations that Russia was behind drone flights over Denmark, characterizing them as NATO attempts to stir tensions and drive up defense spending.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 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
And, since Congress expects workers and employers to be (cough) creative when characterizing wages as tips to avoid paying taxes on otherwise taxable income, Treasury is authorized to issue additional guidance to prevent abuse.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
By contrast, Ka’iana and his family’s landing spot with Kamehameha’s base of power in Hawaii, as well as their foes, needed to be grounded in the land, while still doing the work of characterizing the different factions.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2025
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
Putin dismissed Western accusations that Russia was behind drone flights over Denmark, characterizing them as NATO attempts to stir tensions and drive up defense spending.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 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
And, since Congress expects workers and employers to be (cough) creative when characterizing wages as tips to avoid paying taxes on otherwise taxable income, Treasury is authorized to issue additional guidance to prevent abuse.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
By contrast, Ka’iana and his family’s landing spot with Kamehameha’s base of power in Hawaii, as well as their foes, needed to be grounded in the land, while still doing the work of characterizing the different factions.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterizing
Verb
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During the Vatican audience, Leo received dozens of letters from migrants expressing fear of deportation and describing the emotional toll of living under constant threat.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
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Abdilahi made the case for recognition, describing Somaliland’s people as distinct from the rest of Somalia, which has been plagued by instability for decades.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And investors have a hard time in the middle of this excitement, distinguishing between the good ideas and the bad ideas.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The key is distinguishing between deal-breakers and workable differences.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In 2010—back when the same Republican Party that now flags the dangers of food dyes and seed oils was portraying Let’s Move!—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
4 Oct. 2025
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The White House has also continued to troll House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries with AI videos portraying Jeffries in a sombrero and fake mustache.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bubble hems returned across skirts, pants and jackets, proving the detail can feel sharp and modern when well executed, while skirts in every form — sharp and structured, flowing and asymmetric — emerged as the defining piece of spring 2026.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
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This absence of shame is a defining generational factor.—
Glynnis MacNicol,
Flow Space,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Characterizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterizing. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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