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
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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
The post described troops working behind the scenes in police offices, and conducting traffic management and manning perimeters around crime scenes when necessary.
—
Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2025
Habits that when ingrained for long enough become instinct, which is exactly how Maye described his fumble against Washington.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
Prosecutors have countered defendants’ apologies by describing details of the crime.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Although there is recognition of the fight, flight, and freeze responses in humans, as Forbes Councils Member Peter Stewart describes, and their links to affect, which includes feelings, emotions, and mood, the link to character, and in particular temperance, has been underexplored.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for describe
Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2025
Habits that when ingrained for long enough become instinct, which is exactly how Maye described his fumble against Washington.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
Prosecutors have countered defendants’ apologies by describing details of the crime.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Although there is recognition of the fight, flight, and freeze responses in humans, as Forbes Councils Member Peter Stewart describes, and their links to affect, which includes feelings, emotions, and mood, the link to character, and in particular temperance, has been underexplored.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for describe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for describe
Verb
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Meta’s guidelines declared that depicting adults, including the elderly, receiving punches or kicks was acceptable.—
Douglas B. Laney,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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His work, in turn, was a bronze version of a colorful fountain made of cement, also depicting the three kneeling women, and which, from 1931 to 1965, had been on display at the center of Morelia.—
Eric Adler
August 17,
Kansas City Star,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But actress Helen Mirren recently told Saga Magazine that taking that route would produce an entirely different film.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
18 Aug. 2025
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The shots came from a gray Dodge Charger just before 7 a.m. Sheriff’s officials said a caller told dispatchers they were fired upon after yelling at the Dodge’s driver for throwing trash onto the roadway.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Human social organization is characterized by groups that have linkages between them that form larger communities, notes Seyfarth.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
6 Aug. 2025
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These symptoms may include fever, fatigue, and nausea, but a chikungunya infection is characterized by the accompanying severe joint pain that can last for months or years.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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American leaders and commentators often portrayed international adversaries in unflattering and discursive brushstrokes.—
Time,
Time,
8 Aug. 2025
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South Park went after Homeland Security on its social media pages and made Vice President JD Vance a key target in the latest episode, portraying him toddler-sized next to Trump.—
Joshua Sammons,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After that, Lisa, Larsa, and Cult Jam apparently started screaming at each other in the elevator about something Jody related, which the cameras didn’t pick up.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
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In a statement, a lawyer for Ortiz said his client’s guilty plea was highly tailored, relating only to his transactions with Pérez in the context of concert performances.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And over time a cadre of chefs have learned to use these riches in a way that distinctly defines the city’s cuisine.—
Pervaiz Shallwani,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Aug. 2025
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Both stylists say to define curls using a curl cream and a diffuser.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This phase of the series illustrates the intricate psychological tactics used in espionage, where family bonds and loyalty become tools for manipulation and control.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
13 Aug. 2025
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Once again, the play-off win against Coventry illustrates how Sunderland will need to work hard and maintain pressure in their defensive shape against higher-quality opposition.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump recounted the agreement with Nvidia.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
11 Aug. 2025
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The harrowing scene is recounted in A Flower Traveled in My Blood by Haley Cohen Gilliland, which was published by Avid Reader Press last month.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/describe. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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