1
as in tracing
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 describing
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
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Recent Examples of delineating
The force of Quincy’s essay resided not in rehearsing this full litany of offenses for The Atlantic’s readers but in delineating its implications.
—
Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
The opening number remains a stunner as choreographer Ellenore Scott finding fresh ways of delineating all the major and minor characters and introducing the tensions that will further tighten throughout the show.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Consistent cadence and properly delineating sentences and statements vastly improve any output the glasses produce.
—PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
The Senate is expected to ramp up efforts this fall to pass a bill delineating oversight of the crypto market — the crown jewel of digital asset legislation.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 9 Sep. 2025
Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
The opening number remains a stunner as choreographer Ellenore Scott finding fresh ways of delineating all the major and minor characters and introducing the tensions that will further tighten throughout the show.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Consistent cadence and properly delineating sentences and statements vastly improve any output the glasses produce.
—PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
The Senate is expected to ramp up efforts this fall to pass a bill delineating oversight of the crypto market — the crown jewel of digital asset legislation.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delineating
Verb
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Jonathan Martin, a meteorologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been tracking the size of this cold pool, tracing it back to when such reliable data began in the 1940s.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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Someone investigating a leak may be able to discover you by tracing your habits.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To understand how federal agents are using various Department of Homeland Security surveillance tools in real time, NPR collected dozens of accounts — through interviews and court documents — describing confrontations with federal immigration officers in recent months.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2026
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And Kim added that he was distracted playing video games at times when Chan was describing the deadly plot to his friends.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But the potentially season-defining stretch can’t be at the forefront of their minds now.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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If you’re hooked on Ryan Murphy’s Love Story, a slate of classic and recent series deliver the same 1990s glamour, New York energy and era-defining style.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Advertisement Vehicles move along a highway past a war memorial statue and a billboard depicting Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed in an air strike on February 28, with plumes of black smoke billowing, in Tehran on March 8, 2026.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
8 Mar. 2026
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Tim Robinson’s The Chair Company is likewise uncomfortably adept at depicting how navigating our immensely complicated, interconnected society can feel.—
Jake Pitre,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The department also has launched a new web page outlining immigrants’ rights during encounters with law enforcement.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
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The Lake County Convention Center is another step closer to being built after the Gary Common Council unanimously approved an ordinance outlining the city’s involvement in the project’s financing.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Not all of it works, but Bale is essentially perfect, portraying both the innocence and the increasing alienation of his young hero.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
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Popular culture has long elevated certain women by portraying others as rivals, obstacles or villains.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delineating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delineating. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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