1
as in depicts
to give a representation or account of in words
he tried to describe the dream he had last night as accurately as he could
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tells
to give an oral or written account of in some detail
a biography of Washington that describes the decisive Battle of Yorktown at great length
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in characterizes
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
how would you describe the Inupiat people you encountered in Alaska?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of describes
The crypto world has been buzzing in recent months about the potential for applying blockchain technology to agentic commerce, a term that describes AI agents undertaking purchases or other economic activity on a user’s behalf.
—
Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
The executive order describes a decline in public trust in science that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
In practical terms, however, Maymó describes the awards as one layer within a wider trajectory already powered by other milestones.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 14 Apr. 2026
Cory Hicks describes the first night of the war with Iran when a drone hit his base in Kuwait.
—Reg Chapman, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Benton, who describes herself as a loyal United customer, does not want to see the airline cut nonstop flights at O'Hare.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
That makes the 1518 what Phillips describes as the most coveted vintage Pateks in existence.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Apr. 2026
Maria no longer describes herself simply as a breast cancer patient.
—Keith M. Bellizzi, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
Raiff describes Ryan Coogler as his filmmaking idol and calls Coogler’s debut Fruitvale Station his favorite movie — but seeing the success of Sinners, a relatively commercial enterprise that won Coogler his first Oscar, opened his eyes in a new way.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
The executive order describes a decline in public trust in science that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
In practical terms, however, Maymó describes the awards as one layer within a wider trajectory already powered by other milestones.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 14 Apr. 2026
Cory Hicks describes the first night of the war with Iran when a drone hit his base in Kuwait.
—Reg Chapman, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Benton, who describes herself as a loyal United customer, does not want to see the airline cut nonstop flights at O'Hare.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
That makes the 1518 what Phillips describes as the most coveted vintage Pateks in existence.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Apr. 2026
Maria no longer describes herself simply as a breast cancer patient.
—Keith M. Bellizzi, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
Raiff describes Ryan Coogler as his filmmaking idol and calls Coogler’s debut Fruitvale Station his favorite movie — but seeing the success of Sinners, a relatively commercial enterprise that won Coogler his first Oscar, opened his eyes in a new way.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for describes
Verb
-
Nude Descending a Staircase ostensibly depicts a figure walking down a flight of stairs, as its title suggests, but the mannequin-like person is abstracted beyond recognition.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The new series, created by Bruce Miller and adapted from Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name, depicts Gilead from a different vantage.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The poem tells the story of the seduction of a sixteen-year-old girl by the watermonster, a mythical figure, weaving together themes of place, identity, trauma, and transformation.—
Patrick Dundon,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, carbs—the body’s primary energy source—increase your blood sugar, or blood glucose, and, in turn, trigger the pancreas to secrete insulin (a hormone that tells the body’s cells to absorb glucose to prevent an overload).—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The author characterizes Huntington Beach itself as an inherently self-aggrandizing, wealthy coastal enclave unrepresentative of broader California concerns, dismissing the notion that this affluent beach town should serve as a model for statewide governance or the state’s future direction.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
But the decision also characterizes the law as viewpoint discrimination (specifically here the desire to change someone’s LGBTQ+ identity), which is almost never allowed under the First Amendment.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Colman Domingo and Nia Long play the singer’s parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson, while Miles Teller portrays lawyer John Branca.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Newcomers include Anthony Timpano, who plays Malcolm's youngest brother, Jamie, and Vaughan Murrae, who portrays Malcolm's youngest sibling, Kelly.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The first volume recounts Akbar’s ancestors’ history, particularly the lineage from the Turkic conqueror Timur to Babur.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The essay recounts his time in Hungary, presumably as a fellow with the Danube Institute, and attributes the weight loss to the country’s approach to food regulation.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Having a say over who comes and goes into a country is an intrinsic part of what defines a country.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
However, there has been quite a bit of backsliding since then, as well as an elastic understanding of what defines a democracy.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Through a blend of archival recordings and contemporary interviews, the series illustrates how the church became a sanctuary for its community, honoring both their faith and queerness while fostering joy and connection during a time of profound grief.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The film illustrates how her powerful images not only document the human cost of conflict but also drive social change, emphasizing the ethical responsibilities of journalism and highlighting the universal struggle between ambition and familial obligations.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Considered narrowly, statesmanship relates primarily to politics and government.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Antinous is the principal mortal antagonist in Homer’s Odyssey, which relates Odysseus’s difficulties while getting home and how Penelope and her son, Telemachus, struggled to maintain their authority on Ithaca.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Describes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/describes. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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