as in features
formal
the appearance of a person's face; a person's facial features
He and his son have the same distinctive physiognomy.
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Recent Examples of physiognomy
Such methods are considered unreliable, in particular as they are often based on evidence sets from European children that don’t match the physiognomies of young people from other place in the world.
—
Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Thus, the contribution of the men who formalized physiognomy (Johann Lavater) and phrenology (Franz Josef Gall) was systematizing a broader humoral worldview about the connection between body and character, and giving it the prestige of modern science.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Differences between Genovese and Costello come down to their marriages (the former to Kathrine Narducci’s Anna, the latter to Debra Messing’s Bobbie) and the physiognomy of make-up for the men’s superficial contrasts.
—Armond White, National Review, 21 Mar. 2025
Guston’s first comic for The Junior Times, a sparse strip drawn at age 12, introduced Little Snowball, a Black youth bearing exaggerated racial physiognomy and dialect.
—Walker Mimms, New York Times, 4 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for physiognomy
Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Thus, the contribution of the men who formalized physiognomy (Johann Lavater) and phrenology (Franz Josef Gall) was systematizing a broader humoral worldview about the connection between body and character, and giving it the prestige of modern science.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Differences between Genovese and Costello come down to their marriages (the former to Kathrine Narducci’s Anna, the latter to Debra Messing’s Bobbie) and the physiognomy of make-up for the men’s superficial contrasts.
—Armond White, National Review, 21 Mar. 2025
Guston’s first comic for The Junior Times, a sparse strip drawn at age 12, introduced Little Snowball, a Black youth bearing exaggerated racial physiognomy and dialect.
—Walker Mimms, New York Times, 4 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for physiognomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for physiognomy
Noun
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Adjustable Typing Angles Other features on the NODE 100 include a set of flip-out and adjustable feet that offer a choice of three different typing angles, ranging from 6 to 12 degree for a more ergonomic and comfortable typing position.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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As with Eudoxus, the angle of the moon and sun will cast sections of the Aristoteles Crater into shadow, highlighting the broken terrain bordering its central basin plain, upon which a collection of hill-like features reside.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The bill would also require businesses that sell delivery goods, such as grocery delivery providers or DoorDash, to list a comparison of the delivery price versus the regular price if the goods were to be bought in-person at the store.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
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If those extra months incur large public healthcare costs, or if that person’s continued life means one’s great grandchildren receive a substantially smaller bequest, those factors typically aren’t reflected in the patient’s personal willingness to pay.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Press finished her national team career with 155 appearances, ranking ninth all-time in goals scored (64) and 12th in assists (43).—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
25 Jan. 2026
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The decision is a break from the president’s appearance at last year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, which marked the first time a sitting president had attended the National Football League championship game.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Physiognomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/physiognomy. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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