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
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Recent Examples of portraits
Masses of pro-government supporters gathered in Tehran last night, holding flags and portraits of Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
—
Rebecca Shabad, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
Indian portraits, too, were typically studio-based, meaning that individuals were literally removed from any landscape.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 24 Mar. 2026
The Art World of the 1980s (1988), and the comprehensive six-volume set The Lives of Artists (2019), all of which collect his New Yorker portraits.
—News Desk, Artforum, 22 Mar. 2026
Golden hour provides the perfect lighting for those dreamy bluebonnet portraits.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Some might find the hotel stately-home-stuffy, but others will delight in the incredible variety of aristo-leaning patterned wallpapers, lampshades, and rugs, plus its murals, silverware, and portraits of notable Spaniards.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Paradoxically, the still portraits of dead animals are brimming with life.
—Tom Page, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Several portraits in medallions high on the walls of the cloisters show decapitated Dominican Friars who worked as inquisitors with just a stump for a neck and their heads held in their hands.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Both of these, like most of Madrazo’s male portraits, leave the background almost blank; by contrast, his portraits of women (such as Taft’s wife, Anna Sinton Taft) are more abundantly decorated.
—Benjamin Lima
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Rebecca Shabad, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
Indian portraits, too, were typically studio-based, meaning that individuals were literally removed from any landscape.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 24 Mar. 2026
The Art World of the 1980s (1988), and the comprehensive six-volume set The Lives of Artists (2019), all of which collect his New Yorker portraits.
—News Desk, Artforum, 22 Mar. 2026
Golden hour provides the perfect lighting for those dreamy bluebonnet portraits.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Some might find the hotel stately-home-stuffy, but others will delight in the incredible variety of aristo-leaning patterned wallpapers, lampshades, and rugs, plus its murals, silverware, and portraits of notable Spaniards.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Paradoxically, the still portraits of dead animals are brimming with life.
—Tom Page, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Several portraits in medallions high on the walls of the cloisters show decapitated Dominican Friars who worked as inquisitors with just a stump for a neck and their heads held in their hands.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Both of these, like most of Madrazo’s male portraits, leave the background almost blank; by contrast, his portraits of women (such as Taft’s wife, Anna Sinton Taft) are more abundantly decorated.
—Benjamin Lima
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portraits
Noun
-
The author’s dialogue is spot-on, and so are descriptions of both states.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
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The endless descriptions of the sand’s pervasiveness, its grit, and its dryness, instills a real fear.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For many adults, the beauty book triggered memories of a pre-social-media childhood spent cutting pictures out of magazines and pasting them into notebooks.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
These are big walleyes, the kind sportsmen pose with for pictures in the local newspapers.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Especially as an advocate and an author yourself, how can other depictions of autism give more agency to their characters?—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
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The White House has recently added statues of historical figures to its grounds, including depictions of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin that appeared in the Rose Garden earlier this month.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Hollywood had no interest in presenting balanced portrayals of Black life.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The Bigger Picture for Comedians During both his podcast and stand-up appearances, Jonasi’s commentary extended beyond the translation itself into a broader critique of film portrayals of Africa.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The 31-year-old content creator, who gained notoriety online in the late 2010s, is known for his sketches mocking niche everyday scenarios.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
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Ashton Design Those sketches are now in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.—
Mary Eber,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portraits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portraits. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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