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
Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Unlike her costars, Maude Apatow’s Euphoria character, Lexi Howard, is defined by her platonic and familial relationships, such as the one with her childhood best friend, Rue, and her older sister, Cassie.
—Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
His career has been defined by range and a refusal to be boxed in.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 19 Apr. 2026
And when property rights are defined and broadly accepted, people are more likely to cooperate than to fight.
—Antony Davies, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
Feet Above Ground is locally defined as feet above the Highest Astronomical Tide or HAT.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2026
An artist is not defined by a final product.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
Under Pew’s approach, the middle class can mathematically shrink even when everyone’s income rises substantially — because membership is defined by closeness to a median that keeps moving up.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Yes, Justin Bieber is back—and so too are the fringed bras, butterfly bags, and low-rise jeans that defined the era.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
Clutch scoring is defined as points that come in the final five minutes of a game where the point differential between teams is five or less.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Unlike her costars, Maude Apatow’s Euphoria character, Lexi Howard, is defined by her platonic and familial relationships, such as the one with her childhood best friend, Rue, and her older sister, Cassie.
—Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
His career has been defined by range and a refusal to be boxed in.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 19 Apr. 2026
And when property rights are defined and broadly accepted, people are more likely to cooperate than to fight.
—Antony Davies, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
Feet Above Ground is locally defined as feet above the Highest Astronomical Tide or HAT.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2026
An artist is not defined by a final product.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
Under Pew’s approach, the middle class can mathematically shrink even when everyone’s income rises substantially — because membership is defined by closeness to a median that keeps moving up.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Yes, Justin Bieber is back—and so too are the fringed bras, butterfly bags, and low-rise jeans that defined the era.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defined
Adjective
-
Johnson, who’s a restricted free agent, has a decent chance to be asked back on a low-money deal.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Then, during her recovery at a rehab center, COVID-19 hit, leading to restricted visitation.—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Its earliest example can be traced back to English shoemaker Raymond Lewis Wildsmithm who in 1926 designed a simple, slip-on leather house shoe for King George VI.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The prosecutor said the antiquities unit traced the books to South Carolina in 2006 but was unaware of their chain of custody until then.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The region bounded by the hexagon began to turn a brownish-yellow, losing all trace of its initially blue appearance.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Apr. 2026
-
San Diego’s Civic Center is the four-block, municipal compound bounded by A Street and C Street to the north and south, and First Avenue and Third Avenue to the east and west.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That view was echoed by veteran market strategist Ed Yardeni, who described the rally as a forward-looking bet that the conflict will prove temporary, even after recent developments.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Her family have described her as someone who loved makeup, dancing and her job with the USPS, according to FOX32 Chicago.—
Aya Al-Hakim,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No back orders, unless specified by the individual vendor.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The federal government then refiled the lawsuit in the city specified by the judge; that case is ongoing.—
Rebecca Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
China replied with a limited list of individual companies that were allowed to sell to China, but without explanation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
People may benefit from a structured, straightforward assessment process conducted by qualified professionals, offering faster access and easier navigation compared to traditional models with long waitlists and limited specialists.—
Lucy Jones
April 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Eden outlined how, by crippling universities over charges of antisemitism, McMahon could also achieve larger goals.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Continuing about contrasts, Lighton outlined the decision to have Colin’s character be part of a barbershop quartet in the movie, rather than part of a Mensa group, the latter of which is used in the novella.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 2026.
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