as in descriptions
a vivid representation in words of someone or something
his account created in the jurors' heads a detailed portrait of a lonely old man
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 portraits
Tombs, anvils, boats, villages, guns, portraits, fiddle toys.
—
Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Outsize portraits of all three are hauled down endless streets as crowds of obligatory fans parade their wheelbarrows, shovels and carbines.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
The 58-year-old Cooper hung up two black-and-white portraits of his father two days ago in his cozy Manhattan office, that looks less like an office and more like a peaceful nook.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Franco-Chinese painter Xie Lei, known for his dreamlike portraits of ghostly, ambiguous figures adrift in dark spaces, has been announced as the winner of this year’s Prix Marcel Duchamp, France’s most prestigious contemporary art prize.
—News Desk, Artforum, 27 Oct. 2025
In the months since, more portraits in more opulent and baroque frames, and added decorative ornaments in shiny gold — including wall finials and fireplace accents — have been added.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Walls on the first floor of the Capitol are bare as portraits of Tennessee governors usually displayed outside the Governor’s Office and Old Supreme Court Chambers have been taken down to prevent them from being damaged.
—Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
The familiar formula of group portraits, superlatives, and tacky collages was already in place, and already stale.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Trump has added numerous presidential portraits in gold frames to the Oval Office walls.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Outsize portraits of all three are hauled down endless streets as crowds of obligatory fans parade their wheelbarrows, shovels and carbines.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
The 58-year-old Cooper hung up two black-and-white portraits of his father two days ago in his cozy Manhattan office, that looks less like an office and more like a peaceful nook.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Franco-Chinese painter Xie Lei, known for his dreamlike portraits of ghostly, ambiguous figures adrift in dark spaces, has been announced as the winner of this year’s Prix Marcel Duchamp, France’s most prestigious contemporary art prize.
—News Desk, Artforum, 27 Oct. 2025
In the months since, more portraits in more opulent and baroque frames, and added decorative ornaments in shiny gold — including wall finials and fireplace accents — have been added.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Walls on the first floor of the Capitol are bare as portraits of Tennessee governors usually displayed outside the Governor’s Office and Old Supreme Court Chambers have been taken down to prevent them from being damaged.
—Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
The familiar formula of group portraits, superlatives, and tacky collages was already in place, and already stale.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Trump has added numerous presidential portraits in gold frames to the Oval Office walls.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portraits
Noun
-
Related Stories Character descriptions can be found below.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Readers in South Florida submitted photos and brief descriptions of their furry family members, and two rounds of voting determined the winners.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The video showed dozens of videos and pictures sent to her, all featuring people eating McDonald's fries as a show of solidarity.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Go through a corn maze, sip on apple cider, and take silly pictures with the cardboard cutouts.—
Kylie Petty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Gone are the incisive and artful depictions of young people from the Asian and Latina women photographers laid off today.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
-
As with work, depictions of leisure are predominantly set outdoors, and often as solo endeavors.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Officials have given conflicting portrayals of the task force's work so far.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The artist’s portrayals of nude Hindu deities, however, stand accused of offending religious sentiments — a reaction his supporters believe is exacerbated by his Muslim heritage.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Photograph, document, scent-capture — record notes, memories, bottles and recipe sketches so that scent’s past isn’t lost.—
Sudhir Gupta,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
-
And then Riley’s clairvoyant sketches as a teenager point Mia toward going out to the amusement park.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portraits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portraits. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share