depiction

noun

di-ˈpik-shən How to pronounce depiction (audio)
Definition of depictionnext
as in description
a vivid representation in words of someone or something the set piece of the novel is a depiction of the battle that makes readers feel like they were there

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 depiction Las Vegas is subject to cliched depictions in popular culture. — Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Based on a screenplay by a then-28-year-old Arundhati Roy, In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones at first appears to be a modest and playful depiction of student life in the 1970s. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026 The morbidly curious Sperm Whale and Giant Squid Diorama is a startling depiction of one of nature’s most mysterious predator-prey relationships. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2026 However, the smaller image on the right may be a depiction of a human defecating, menstruating, or giving birth. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depiction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depiction
  1. description
  2. portrait
  3. portrayal
  4. picture
Noun
  • On the page, Hig’s first-person descriptions of his everyday adventures, and of the waning natural world around him, had an honest, melancholy soul to them.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • She was stunned how closely autism’s description fit her creative, sensitive girl — her strong need for routine, social anxiety, challenges with communication and sensory processing.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of description
Noun
  • Kristinka Lazar, for example, used the time as an artistic residency to create a collection of paintings called The Gift of Being Seen, featuring 45 portraits of local villagers.
    — Liz Provencher, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Watermelon was founded in 2024 by brothers Badie and Hamza Ali to present more complex portraits of Palestinians and Arabs.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of portrait
Noun
  • Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on presidential portrayals and summer sips.
    — , FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Her nuanced portrayal has given neurodivergent viewers a rare chance to see their own experiences authentically reflected onscreen, while bringing greater visibility and understanding to a community long saddled with Hollywood stereotypes.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of portrayal
Noun
  • Members also flagged strong anticipation from North American press and said a Netflix awards team is preparing a campaign for the film that extends to a best picture push.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Live video is relayed to law enforcement, giving them a clear picture of what’s going on before officers enter the school.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of picture

Browse Nearby Words

depicting
depiction
depictions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Depiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depiction. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of cogent

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All