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

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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

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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

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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 Waddle can be quirky and hilarious — but his unselfishness remains a defining quality. —

Troy Renck, Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2026 Kudrow is widely recognized as one of the defining comedic performers of her generation. —

Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026 But like many of the other races in the state, criticism of Israel and AIPAC support became a defining feature of the home stretch. —

Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026 The Berkovich–Petriychuk trial, which took place in 2024, became, for me, a defining free-speech case, ending in prison sentences for two innocent women. —

Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026 Elder care is the defining labor of this century. —

Neal K. Shah, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2026 Seen on the runway, in street style, and on celebrities (Zoë Kravitz, Jennifer Lawrence, Kendall Jenner, Katie Holmes), the glove shoes have emerged as the season’s defining everyday chic and understated choice. —

Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2026 Political instability, systemic injustice, and social anxiety have become defining features of modern life, and horror is uniquely suited to confront them. —

Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2026 Affordability has also emerged as one of the defining political issues of the year. —

Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 16 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defining

Verb

The film pieces together everyday lives transformed by war—those who flee, those who lose everything, and those who stay to resist and fight—tracing both the instinct to survive and the need for closeness.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine tracing back 3,000 years in India, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

— Emma Hall March 11, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026