as in restricted
having distinct or certain limits
well defined guidelines on the range of activities in which the intelligence agency can engage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in traced
to draw or make apparent the outline of
the glass skyscraper's sleek silhouette was strikingly defined by the setting sun to its west
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in bounded
to mark the limits of
the river defines the town on the south
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in described
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
a woman who is defined by her unswerving loyalty to her friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in specified
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
let me define the task so that there is no doubt in your minds about what needs to be done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defined
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
For Chen, beauty becomes a way of resisting reductive portrayals of communities defined by poverty.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Her acting is defined by emotional clarity, bold choices, and an ability to listen and respond with remarkable authenticity.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Typically, however, it can be defined as one that, for any number of reasons, results in problematic functioning.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
Saratoga has always been a city defined by its neighborhoods.
—Chuck Page, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
The letter codified the idea that the modern West—defined by liberalism, constitutionalism, and multi-party democracy—could be separated, conceptually, from the ancient West, as represented by Greece and Rome.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Although defined by his anti-war activism, McDonald would acknowledge conflicted feelings about Vietnam.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet those who knew him remember a person defined not by hardship but by strength and joy.
—Michelle Edgar, Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
Steve, whose synthesizer work defined Toto’s early sound, later became a film and TV composer.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
For Chen, beauty becomes a way of resisting reductive portrayals of communities defined by poverty.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Her acting is defined by emotional clarity, bold choices, and an ability to listen and respond with remarkable authenticity.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Typically, however, it can be defined as one that, for any number of reasons, results in problematic functioning.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
Saratoga has always been a city defined by its neighborhoods.
—Chuck Page, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
The letter codified the idea that the modern West—defined by liberalism, constitutionalism, and multi-party democracy—could be separated, conceptually, from the ancient West, as represented by Greece and Rome.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Although defined by his anti-war activism, McDonald would acknowledge conflicted feelings about Vietnam.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet those who knew him remember a person defined not by hardship but by strength and joy.
—Michelle Edgar, Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defined
Adjective
-
Individuals of Chinese descent were flying drones over restricted sites.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
-
According to The Information, incident began when an engineer used an internal agent tool to analyze a technical question; the agent then posted advice without approval, which another employee followed, setting off a chain reaction that opened access to restricted systems.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If anything, niche fragrances have increasingly become widely loved; much of that momentum can be traced back to TikTok.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Hwang traced the origins of the series to a period of acute personal hardship.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The ball then hit the football goal post crossbar and bounded down to Luis Duenas who headed it from point-blank range toward the net.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Living in a continent-sized nation bounded by two vast oceans allows for that dangerous self-deception.—
Chuck DeVore,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump administration officials had described solving the case as a top priority.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Running through Reiner's pantheon of successful films, Crystal described a vibrant artist and passionate activist whose wit and comedy delighted audiences for decades.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The letter specified some examples of how religious expression in public schools should be treated the same as secular expression.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
No back orders, unless specified by the individual vendor.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There are limited options to tap into fuel reserves in Cuba, which are tightly controlled by the government.—
MATTHEW LEE,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Beneficiaries are people with limited income who are either blind, aged 65 and older, or have a qualifying disability.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Crockett's office said the congressman's team followed all protocols outlined by the House to contract additional security.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The requirements outlined in the 2021 ordinance for temporary homeless shelters complicate the city’s efforts to address unsheltered homelessness, wrote Ron Hochbaum, an associate clinical professor of law at the McGeorge School of Law.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The cemetery was a communal space, yet each fence demarcated a private domain—my nature, my virtues, my gait, my mood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Voyager 1 is nestled in the space demarcated by that stellar pyramid.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defined. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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