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.
Related 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 physiognomy
Kahn presents an extraordinary panoply of European, African, and Latin faces — physiognomies that instantly convey a liberal democracy in conflict.
—
Armond White, National Review, 6 Sep. 2024
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
Her husband would catch her staring clinically at his physiognomy.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
And, of course, there was the perennial punch line of physiognomy: sight gags, sketches, and songs that depicted Jewish bodies as misshapen and absurd.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for physiognomy
Armond White, National Review, 6 Sep. 2024
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
Her husband would catch her staring clinically at his physiognomy.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
And, of course, there was the perennial punch line of physiognomy: sight gags, sketches, and songs that depicted Jewish bodies as misshapen and absurd.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for physiognomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for physiognomy
Noun
-
But when someone raises concerns about questionable billing practices, the issue is quietly set aside and the person is moved to another role.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
That’s the person who can integrate diverse expertise, promote equitable contributions, and cultivate trust.—
Jamil Zaki,
Harvard Business Review,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Stewart, who was placed on the injured list on Tuesday, made four appearances for the Dodgers, giving up two runs and six hits in 3⅔ innings for a 4.91 ERA.—
Mike Digiovanna,
Oc Register,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Gómez made three relief appearances with the Sox from May 15-19 after being claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 10.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Physiognomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/physiognomy. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share