delineate

verb

di-ˈli-nē-ˌāt How to pronounce delineate (audio)
Definition of delineatenext
1
as in to trace
to draw or make apparent the outline of the man's roly-poly shape was softly delineated by the glow of the fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to describe
to give a representation or account of in words the story does a remarkable job of delineating the emotions that immigrants feel upon their arrival in a strange country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 delineate The magnetic pull for those whose ultimate prize is privacy and connection to nature is towards gardens, forests, fields and beachfronts that stretch into the distance, delineating possibilities. — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 Short dramas are about big emotions and dramatic reversals; the heroes and villains are generally clearly delineated. — Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026 By 1962, Jaray was making hard-edge abstract paintings that conjured architectural structures or details; delineated with masking tape and executed without visible brush strokes, they were carefully plotted out through multiple preliminary drawings, and in later years, on a computer. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 25 June 2026 Some of them act as half walls, delineating the foyer, or partially separating the family room from the main salon. — Paola Singer, Architectural Digest, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for delineate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delineate
  1. trace
  2. describe
  3. define
  4. depict
  5. outline
  6. portray
Verb
  • No doubt this can be traced back to numerous flaws, but the main one is that the later opera was just a pale copy of its predecessor.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The century-of-leather theme was carried out in the details, with a film tracing Montblanc’s history playing behind two attendants stationed with open Writing Traveler briefcases, while an oversize walk-in bag doubled as the night’s photo op.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of trace
Verb
  • The modern American Dream is best described as a private bunker where the outside world arrives entirely in a cardboard box or a fiber-optic cable.
    — John Mac Ghlionn, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Strahan described the chaos in New York City amid the rescue efforts and the accompanying bomb threats and noted that the Giants could still see smoke from the twin towers from the team’s practice fields.
    — Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of describe
Verb
  • The slump has sapped the power that has defined his offensive game, with no extra-base hits and just one RBI during that span.
    — Jesús Cano, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Its legacy animates both movements seeking greater inclusion and campaigns promising to restore a national unity defined in racial or cultural terms.
    — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of define
Verb
  • For the cover of the September 14, 2026, Fall Style & Design Issue, the artist Lennart Gäbel depicted a feeling that every New York City subway rider knows well.
    — Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Well, the internet cooked up the idea that the chant originated from late-1800s and early-1900s imagery and stories that depicted Black children being used as bait to catch alligators.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of depict
Verb
  • The memo cited a Law Department estimate of about 35,000 potential plaintiffs — roughly 10,000 of whom were expected to file claims — as a result of the September 11 attacks and outlined legislative options to limit the city’s legal liability.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Rather than simply predicting a doomsday plot, the main purpose of this release is to outline a pathway with the necessary steps to set things on the right track.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of outline
Verb
  • The AfD also aims to segregate refugees and disabled children in schools and rework the curriculum to portray a more positive view of Germany's history.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
  • There’s a lot more to Love Love’s not the only one to break hearts and portray himself as a professional athlete.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of portray

Browse Nearby Words

delimits
delineate
delineated
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Cite this Entry

“Delineate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delineate. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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