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
Spanning from the late short story writer Eudora Welty to the more au courant Zendaya, the portraits were also snapshots of time.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
The area features portraits of past presidents.
—Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Instead, between two portraits of Trump, there is an image of an autopen signing Biden's signature.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
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 book comprises over three dozen portraits by photographer James Van Der Zee—a renowned figure of the Harlem Renaissance known for depicting Black middle-class life—that offer a visual chronology of the tradition, complete with biblical and mythical adornments.
—Air Mail, 1 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
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
The area features portraits of past presidents.
—Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Instead, between two portraits of Trump, there is an image of an autopen signing Biden's signature.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
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 book comprises over three dozen portraits by photographer James Van Der Zee—a renowned figure of the Harlem Renaissance known for depicting Black middle-class life—that offer a visual chronology of the tradition, complete with biblical and mythical adornments.
—Air Mail, 1 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portraits
Noun
-
All venues are equipped with accessibility measures including audio descriptions, sign language interpretation and multilingual dubbing.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Midwinter Day was a rageful response inspired by Ulysses in its epic descriptions of the quotidian.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
For the rest of her images, Kardashian modeled the see-through lace dress in various parts of the island paradise, also including some pictures that were just part of the scenery.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Like William Klein’s pictures, Roversi’s incorporate accidents, light flares, blur, even damage.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This aesthetic is a nod to Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel and its nostalgic depictions of home and comfort.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The documentary's trailer begins with a classic cowboy standoff, which zeroes in on a Black cowboy's face — a shot not often seen in mainstream Wild West depictions.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
According to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage of the event, Cheney was asked how media portrayals might affect his legacy.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Chenoweth and Menzel’s portrayals of Glinda and Elphaba earned them both Tony Award nominations for best performance by a leading actress in a musical, which Menzel won at the 2004 ceremony, and Wicked hasn’t left the Gershwin Theatre since its premiere in October 2003.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Lodged between musical numbers, the comics, Imogene Coca among them, did six sketches, having already discarded dozens of ideas earlier in the week.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Composite sketches were then widely circulated, prompting a surge of tips that put Wuornos and Moore on investigators’ radar.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portraits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portraits. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share