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
The design ethos translates to a warren of nook-and-cranny sitting rooms decorated in sage and slate, ox-blood leather, curiosities and ancestral portraits.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
The first room, the Studio, is a recreation of the photographer’s famous atelier on Rue Paul Fort in Paris, known as Studio Luce, where fashion pictures, still-life imagery, portraits coexist as a kaleidoscopic trip inside Roversi’s oeuvre and intimate workspace.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
There was work from the collection of Chicago collectors Joel and Carol Bernstein, assembled over the course of six decades, starting with a few Alice Neel portraits and a larger-than-life Fairfield Porter, Iced Coffee.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
The museum got into the touchy territory of commissioning portraits of living presidents in 1994.
—Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
This selection highlights 30-plus portraits from more than 3,300 entries to the triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition.
—Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 15 May 2026
The portraits on the wall, whose characters occasionally come alive, start to envelop us.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
The pup was pictured in Princess Charlotte's 7th and 8th birthday portraits, tagged along with Kate to watch Prince William in a polo match in 2022 and was featured in her video announcement about completing chemotherapy treatment in September 2024.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Interior designer Barrie Benson used the homeowner's collection of portraits as a jumping-off point for the room's perfectly pink palette.
—Eleni N. Gage, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
The first room, the Studio, is a recreation of the photographer’s famous atelier on Rue Paul Fort in Paris, known as Studio Luce, where fashion pictures, still-life imagery, portraits coexist as a kaleidoscopic trip inside Roversi’s oeuvre and intimate workspace.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
There was work from the collection of Chicago collectors Joel and Carol Bernstein, assembled over the course of six decades, starting with a few Alice Neel portraits and a larger-than-life Fairfield Porter, Iced Coffee.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
The museum got into the touchy territory of commissioning portraits of living presidents in 1994.
—Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
This selection highlights 30-plus portraits from more than 3,300 entries to the triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition.
—Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 15 May 2026
The portraits on the wall, whose characters occasionally come alive, start to envelop us.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
The pup was pictured in Princess Charlotte's 7th and 8th birthday portraits, tagged along with Kate to watch Prince William in a polo match in 2022 and was featured in her video announcement about completing chemotherapy treatment in September 2024.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Interior designer Barrie Benson used the homeowner's collection of portraits as a jumping-off point for the room's perfectly pink palette.
—Eleni N. Gage, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portraits
Noun
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Officials have said the descriptions reflect observations made at the time and do not include conclusions about the nature of the phenomena.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
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According to descriptions by people who knew her, Martha was about 5 feet tall.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
Noun
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On this night, as Rashad posed for pictures in Bushwick, SZA was a few miles away in Manhattan, walking the red carpet at the Met Gala.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
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Once in the asteroid's orbit, NASA's spacecraft is slated to take pictures of the asteroid's surface and shed light on its composition, over the course of about two years.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Noun
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According to Variety, the clause prevented any depictions or mentions of Chandler in any dramatization of Jackson’s life.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
12 May 2026
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There’s critique of Hollywood alien depictions.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Noun
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At this point, there is no claim that any animal suffered injury, and much of the public reaction has been driven by incomplete or misleading portrayals online.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
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However, contrary to many portrayals, your skin wouldn't burst right away.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
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No photos, no sketches, no fitting details — absolutely nothing is allowed to leak.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
14 May 2026
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Ironically, only Branwell’s room, papered with sketches and poems, looks like an artist’s refuge.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portraits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portraits. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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