as in vivid
producing a mental picture through clear and impressive description
the finely delineated characters of the novel will seem real to the reader
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in traced
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
2
as in described
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 delineated
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Precisely delineated with colored pencil, Sully’s pictures look simultaneously naive and urbanely sophisticated.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
Every chapter has four clearly delineated elements: The Myth, The Facts, The Logic and What To Do, as well as a helpful overview, Recommendation.
—Larry D. Urish, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Ideally, sapphires’ stars are thought best when clearly, geometrically delineated, unsullied by contaminant minerals or whorls within the molecular grain of the stone.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Both create delineated characters quickly and add humor and drama to the production.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
Such ambiguity ran contrary to Seiwert’s aesthetics and politics, which privileged clearly delineated types in exemplary class struggle.
—Noam M. Elcott, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2025
In many ways Alpine Europe is delineated not by nationality but by geography and culture.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2025
During the last round of labor negotiations with the NFLPA in 2020, the league pushed new language that more clearly delineated what gets shared in the event of a sale like this.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Torie Bosch, STAT, 31 Jan. 2026
Categories are clearly delineated, like with the separate hoodies and sweats area.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 19 Dec. 2025
An earlier leftist position had been delineated by Jean Jaurès in Histoire socialiste de la Révolution française (1901–07).
—Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
Branca delineated two zones—a lounge and study—with furniture placement and curtain panels hung from the ceiling.
—Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2025
Parks digitally delineated instead of outlined by the contours of our promenades.
—Paul Greenberg, Time, 20 Sep. 2025
The boundaries of the world are delineated neatly by your compunctions.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
ISRAs are delineated based on criteria such as vulnerability, range restriction, key life-history stages (like breeding or feeding grounds), and unique ecological characteristics.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
For a while, that was federally protected—the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act has for decades delineated that Friday was for high school football, Saturday was for college and Sunday was for the NFL.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Characters are not strongly delineated in this version.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Precisely delineated with colored pencil, Sully’s pictures look simultaneously naive and urbanely sophisticated.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
Every chapter has four clearly delineated elements: The Myth, The Facts, The Logic and What To Do, as well as a helpful overview, Recommendation.
—Larry D. Urish, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Ideally, sapphires’ stars are thought best when clearly, geometrically delineated, unsullied by contaminant minerals or whorls within the molecular grain of the stone.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Both create delineated characters quickly and add humor and drama to the production.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
Such ambiguity ran contrary to Seiwert’s aesthetics and politics, which privileged clearly delineated types in exemplary class struggle.
—Noam M. Elcott, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2025
In many ways Alpine Europe is delineated not by nationality but by geography and culture.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2025
During the last round of labor negotiations with the NFLPA in 2020, the league pushed new language that more clearly delineated what gets shared in the event of a sale like this.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
When parents interview a pediatrician in the prenatal period and issues about one’s practice are delineated, immunization schedules will likely be a point of discussion.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 31 Jan. 2026
Categories are clearly delineated, like with the separate hoodies and sweats area.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 19 Dec. 2025
An earlier leftist position had been delineated by Jean Jaurès in Histoire socialiste de la Révolution française (1901–07).
—Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
Branca delineated two zones—a lounge and study—with furniture placement and curtain panels hung from the ceiling.
—Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2025
Parks digitally delineated instead of outlined by the contours of our promenades.
—Paul Greenberg, Time, 20 Sep. 2025
The boundaries of the world are delineated neatly by your compunctions.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
ISRAs are delineated based on criteria such as vulnerability, range restriction, key life-history stages (like breeding or feeding grounds), and unique ecological characteristics.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
For a while, that was federally protected—the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act has for decades delineated that Friday was for high school football, Saturday was for college and Sunday was for the NFL.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delineated
Adjective
-
From its booming beginning to its playful passages, the music offered vivid contrasts.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Metaphorical thinking enhances learning by linking new concepts to familiar patterns, fostering creative problem-solving among non-experts, and aiding memory retention through vivid imagery, while expanding one's metaphor store through diverse topics can boost creativity in specialized fields.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Soon after, the weapon used is traced back to Sverre Olsen (Arthur Hakalahti), a young arms dealer operating in a downtown warehouse populated by the city’s underworld and, according to the 70 percent assurance of face recognition expert Beate (Ellen Helinder), a familiar presence within the force.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The five bullets found in Ordoñez’s body during an autopsy traced back to the guns of Lee, Santiesteban, Mateo and Mirabal, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation report released in August 2024.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Following a trial described by international observers as a kangaroo court, they were sentenced to death on October 31, 1995.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Buchsbaum described a mid-20th-century American Jewish landscape in which nearly every community had kosher butchers and caterers because even many non-Orthodox families expected bar mitzvahs, weddings and other celebrations to be kosher.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
-
What engrossed him and his team was the Alto’s graphical display, which was destined to make the text-only displays of contemporary computers obsolete.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Though global attention has shifted, daily life in Ukraine remains defined by uncertainty.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Sets by Illenium, Steve Aoki, BZRP, Vintage Culture, Armin Van Buuren, Alesso, Martin Garrix, Eric Prydz, Sara Landry, Major Lazer and others highlight a night defined by big production and packed audiences.—
Miami Herald newsroom,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The statues depicted neuroscientists, paleontologists, sports researchers and even a shark biologist.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The themes depicted in the images, such as bravery and resilience, will inspire the final design of the memorial.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Rather than focusing on complex assembly tasks, the deployment currently targets specific industrial activities such as material handling and intra-logistics, where humanoid mobility and flexibility can be used in existing factory layouts.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
-
People drive to a specific place, eat, then drive home.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One of those stations in Los Angeles Fire Department Station Five, where Battalion Chief Lance McCloskey outlined the process behind their emergency operations.—
Nicole Comstock,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
And in Houston, George Bush Intercontinental outlined screening times between two and a half and four hours at its two checkpoints that remained open.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delineated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delineated. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
