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
Relevance
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
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 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
-
Here's a full timeline of the case so far, starting with the most recent developments and tracing back to when Nancy Guthrie was reported missing.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Dive into the outdoor pool or sink into one of the hot tubs, take a test drive tracing the endless miles of evergreen treeline in one of the property’s fully electric Audi vehicles, or have the concierge arrange a fly-fishing session for you in the Roaring Fork Valley.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Austin, 13, can be heard calmly describing the situation and asking for a helicopter to search for his mother and two siblings in a recording released by the Western Australia Police Force on Wednesday.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The other agents in the car continued to lie when describing the circumstances of the shooting to the FBI, including in a diagram that purported to show three cars in front of the agents’ Tahoe blocking them from moving forward.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Period hairstyles also play a significant role in defining the characters of Elvira and Agnes, aka Cinderella, played by Thea Sofie Loch Naess.—
Simon Thompson,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
And isn’t that about to become the defining ingredient of all future Hall of Fame voting, sooner than later?—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But just as there’s a difference between depicting chaos and depicting chaotically, there’s a difference between presenting theatergoers with a realistic image of mental illness and driving an audience nuts.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
He was detained nearby during a traffic stop, with photos from Fox depicting him in the parking lot of Culver’s restaurant.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The city of Decatur is outlining the steps it's been taking to boost security at schools.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But on June 8, 2023, officers issued an environmental protection compliance order to the company, outlining steps the company was to take.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Still, the actress felt the weight of portraying a figure so beloved for her signature minimalist style.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Alberdi explores the tale from Ale’s perspective through the use of dramatizations, with actress Ana Celeste Montalvo Peña portraying Ale, and Armando Espitia as Arturo.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delineating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delineating. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
