1
as in to depict
to give a representation or account of in words
he tried to describe the dream he had last night as accurately as he could
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to tell
to give an oral or written account of in some detail
a biography of Washington that describes the decisive Battle of Yorktown at great length
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
how would you describe the Inupiat people you encountered in Alaska?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of describe
Given how deep the hole has been, the signs of climbing out of it could be described as modest.
—
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
That pretty much describes Rory McIlroy’s Masters.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
All these data points describe physical and financial capitals, vital for a city’s success, yes, but not foundational.
—Stephen B. Young, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Reid confirmed her departure in November 2024, describing it as bittersweet.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for describe
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
That pretty much describes Rory McIlroy’s Masters.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
All these data points describe physical and financial capitals, vital for a city’s success, yes, but not foundational.
—Stephen B. Young, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Reid confirmed her departure in November 2024, describing it as bittersweet.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for describe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for describe
Verb
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The three sketches, which show an artist's representation of the suspects based on witness information, depict three different men.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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For example, the uplifted Willis Tower store features commissioned artwork depicting the adjacent Chicago River.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In early December, Prieto was told to show up for an immigration check-in at an earlier date than ICE had initially requested and to bring his family.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Pop star Britney Spears has voluntarily checked into rehab following her DUI arrest in Southern California in March, a representative for the singer told CBS LA.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Loyal cinephiles have characterized the work as a deliberate affront.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Post-Apollo, images of space travel were characterized by launching space shuttles, Erector Set-like space stations and Mars rovers crossing a dusty landscape.—
Jennifer Levasseur,
The Conversation,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Michael's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, portrays his uncle in his acting debut.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Jordan pointed to the format of the show, which starts as the star portraying himself before moving into the 1950s and ’60s to tell Darin’s story.—
Kimberly Nordyke,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That September, investigators determined the incidents may be related and began interviewing residents in the area in November.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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As Garrison subsequently related, Alfortish proposed a new scheme.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His death marked the loss of a titan in the Civil Rights Movement, defined by a six-decade career that took him across the country and around the world.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
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These players have partly defined this season, and they won’t be honored?—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the open letter illustrates the deep resistance to the deal among many members of Hollywood’s creative community.—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
13 Apr. 2026
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Cannabis illustrates a particularly confusing tension between regulatory restrictions on one hand and research and innovation on the other.—
Lucy Xiaolu Wang,
The Conversation,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutor Nichols called David Wiley to the stand, who recounted Terry Rose's confession to him back in 1999.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The billionaire cofounder recounted a time when Duolingo had been on the hunt for a chief financial officer for a year.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/describe. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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