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
Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
The result is a lightweight, transparent take on Jimmy Choo’s traditional evening pump — airy in construction yet defined by precision lines and a high arch.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2025
The interior of the concept comprises sumptuous leatherwork and controls defined by physical knobs, dials, and switches.
—Stephen Treffinger, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2025
Her characters are cast to record an audio adaptation of a wildly popular vampire romance series that defined their teenage years, just like The Twilight Saga defined hers.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
After just a few minutes on each arm, the soreness had noticeably decreased, and my arms looked more defined and less puffy, especially near the underarm area where water retention tends to settle.
—Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 4 Oct. 2025
The lyrics here reportedly take aim at betrayal, broken trust, and the power struggles that defined their relationship.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Coming after his success as a co-writer on partner Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar hit Barbie (2023), Jay Kelly appears to signal a new chapter for the Baumbach, one less defined by fracture and regret than by celebration.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Few sports are as defined by fallow periods as baseball.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
The 23-year-old hit 33 long passes (defined as 40 metres or more) — more than double by a goalkeeper in any other United game this season.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
The result is a lightweight, transparent take on Jimmy Choo’s traditional evening pump — airy in construction yet defined by precision lines and a high arch.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2025
The interior of the concept comprises sumptuous leatherwork and controls defined by physical knobs, dials, and switches.
—Stephen Treffinger, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2025
Her characters are cast to record an audio adaptation of a wildly popular vampire romance series that defined their teenage years, just like The Twilight Saga defined hers.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
After just a few minutes on each arm, the soreness had noticeably decreased, and my arms looked more defined and less puffy, especially near the underarm area where water retention tends to settle.
—Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 4 Oct. 2025
The lyrics here reportedly take aim at betrayal, broken trust, and the power struggles that defined their relationship.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Coming after his success as a co-writer on partner Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar hit Barbie (2023), Jay Kelly appears to signal a new chapter for the Baumbach, one less defined by fracture and regret than by celebration.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Few sports are as defined by fallow periods as baseball.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defined
Adjective
-
Hundreds more were forced to sleep on cots in terminals overnight, as authorities scrambled to respond to unconfirmed but credible reports of drones in restricted airspace.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Things had finally intensified to where McTavish was on the phone with Morris five or six times a day after a lengthy and meaningful divide over term and worth resulting in the center withholding his services for the first 10 days of training camp as a restricted free agent without a contract.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The origins of coffee can be traced to Ethiopia, as far back as the 9th century.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Disorders like tremors can be traced to specific misbehaving circuits in the brain, Munyon said while explaining the procedure.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Then, as if that were not enough excitement for any hunter at one time, a big mule-deer buck broke out of the thicket and bounded away to my left, straight for Sally.—
Robert Merchant,
Outdoor Life,
1 Oct. 2025
-
In the clip, the puppy dashed toward his new little friend; at first the Chihuahua retreated, stuck his tongue out and paw up, and then bounded toward him.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That's the number that showed up in the national media, in stories that described Phoenix as a hellscape, a place where children burned themselves trying to climb on playground equipment.—
Shaun McKinnon,
AZCentral.com,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Stein described this technique as a form of dissociation—stripping language of the feelings that link it to our shared experience.—
Judith Thurman,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Starbucks has not specified which locations will be closing, but nearly a dozen Colorado locations have been identified by several media news outlets, social media posts and a coffee enthusiast.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
-
What Happens Next Trump has not specified when the deployment might take place, how many personnel would be sent, nor what type of forces would be involved.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike schools where the number of spots for both American students and international students are more limited, Miner says the dip is felt more at UC in a growing city such as Cincinnati.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Access to this free event is extremely limited.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The assessment by the Washington, DC think tank outlined how Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SCNC) had directed military and civilian officials to designate successors in the event of leadership disruption to ensure continuation in the event of war.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
So far, agency shutdown plans have outlined any specific layoffs.—
Jamie Tarabay,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The team confirmed 13 of them — demarcated with an asterisk below — and The Charlotte Observer independently confirmed the four others.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Aug. 2025
-
And yet this life style seemed demarcated by objects that were ugly, strange, and uncanny.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defined. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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