Thesaurus results for DEFINING

defining

verb

present participle of define

as in tracing

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

Relevance

as in describing

to mark the limits of the river defines the town on the south

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in characterizing

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

as in specifying

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of defining What are the defining traits of a fresh scent? —

Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 27 May 2026 Mamdani is promising to build 200,000 new affordable housing units over the next 10 years while preserving the same number, aiming to tackle the city’s defining contemporary crisis as vacancy rates hit record lows and NYC stares down a middle-class exodus. —

New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026 Building From the Wrong Standpoint One of the defining missteps in early tokenization efforts was starting with the technology rather than the investor. —

Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 In its latest action addressing broader issues, the El Cajon City Council on Tuesday voted against the state bill that would change rules about justifiable homicide and unanimously adopted a resolution defining antisemitism and promoting nondiscrimination of all residents. —

Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025 The company enjoyed a strong reputation for delivering the defining films of the first major action era until its demise nearly 30 years ago in 1995. —

Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2025 These targets were suddenly made to fear for their futures in the face of a retribution campaign that has been a defining feature of his first two months in office. —

Calvin Woodward, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025 Brian Tyree Henry delivers a career-defining performance in Dope Thief. —

Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Mar. 2025 Life has a way of defining our purpose through the moments that challenge us most. —

Cristian Lacapra, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defining

Verb

Lincoln's life and death had a lasting impact on the future president, historians Douglas Brinkley and Harold Holzer wrote in an exclusive piece for USA TODAY, tracing how a portrait of Lincoln later became Roosevelt's moral compass.

— Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Sound of Falling, Mascha Schilinski’s experimental period drama tracing the lives of four young women from four different epochs in rural East Germany, swept the German Film Awards, the Lolas, winning 10 Lolas including best film and best director for Schilinski.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 May 2026