1
as in to describe
to give a representation or account of in words
the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
traditionally, European authors portrayed the natives as wise and noble
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3
as in to depict
to present a picture of
a landscape that portrays the scenery near the town where the painter grew up
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4
as in to play
to present a portrayal or performance of
gained fame portraying Susan B. Anthony in a one-woman show
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portray
In The Quiet American (1958), the first film adaptation of Graham Greene’s 1955 novel of the same name, Moll portrayed Phuong, a Vietnamese woman desired by an American citizen (Audie Murphy) and a British journalist (Michael Redgrave).
—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2026
The league also permitted players to use a wristband where the MLB logo portrayed a Black hitter.
—
Ian Miller Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
In fact, the NFLPA filed an amicus brief effectively against Clarett, portraying him as an interloper of sorts.
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Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 June 2026
Kelly and Watts say the intent was never to rewrite the narrative or portray anyone in an unfair light.
—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for portray
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2026
The league also permitted players to use a wristband where the MLB logo portrayed a Black hitter.
—
Ian Miller Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
In fact, the NFLPA filed an amicus brief effectively against Clarett, portraying him as an interloper of sorts.
—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 June 2026
Kelly and Watts say the intent was never to rewrite the narrative or portray anyone in an unfair light.
—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for portray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portray
Verb
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The offender is described as an African-American man between 40-45 years of age, weighing 180-200 pounds, and was last seen wearing a gray/black baseball cap, a light blue shirt, gray pants, and black gym shoes.
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Speaking on the achievement, Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier described the maiden flight as an important milestone for the company.
Verb
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Stark White The past few years have been characterized by warm, off-white tones, and in 2026, designers agree that this trend is not set to change.
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The result is a club conceived without the hierarchies that characterize some of its London counterparts—members shaped not by title or industry, but by curiosity and shared sensibility.
Verb
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The decor throughout pays homage to local style and the Louisiana environment with white shiplap walls, white-oak details, and, above the beds, oversize plaster wall reliefs depicting magnolia flowers.
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The statue honors the service and sacrifice of first responders and depicts Rose Conroy, the first woman to serve as chief of a professional municipal fire department in California, House said.
Verb
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For tour this time around, Pillsbury is looking forward to playing larger venues, which offer space for grander production.
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The elder Moniak, now 86, played six seasons in the Red Sox farm system from 1958-63, and like Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, was among the young outfielders who benefited from the tutelage of a special batting instructor named Ted Williams at spring training ‘61-63.
Verb
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Andrew Coffman, an Atlanta employment discrimination and civil rights lawyer, has represented employees and employers and worked as an internal investigator for companies.
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According to the study, the detections represent the most robust evidence of organic material found in Jezero Crater so far.
Verb
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These will be highly specialized agents that sit on top of Anaplan’s applications, capable of performing tasks autonomously for users.
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While humans thrive on ambiguity, context, metaphor and inference, machines generally perform better when information is categorized, tagged, labeled and linked in ways that reduce uncertainty.
Verb
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In order to understand what is happening, the reader must interpret the images and the character’s dialogue.
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Research that starts online often bears more fruit when it’s continued in person at a genealogical library, where professional genealogists and librarians can help locate and interpret records.
Verb
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Smoke, salt, pepper and bark do the work.
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Mark Thompson does the costume and scenic design, with lighting by Howard Harrison.
Cite this Entry
“Portray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portray. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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