as in depiction
a vivid representation in words of someone or something
his novel presents a moving portrayal of a woman searching for personal fulfillment and happiness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portrayal
But the box score alone isn’t a fair portrayal of what happened in Westwood.
—
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Her portrayals – reflective of real people – will live on in television history for their honesty, wit and charm.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
At least that’s according to interviews here with several Illini and Huskies players, who universally concurred that the media versions of Underwood and Hurley are not really an accurate portrayal of their personalities.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
O’Hara, who won Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series at the Actor Awards for her portrayal of producer Patty Leigh — the mentor to studio head Matt Remick, played by actor and The Studio co-creator Seth Rogen — was initially part of Season 2’s plans prior to her January 2026 death.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Her portrayals – reflective of real people – will live on in television history for their honesty, wit and charm.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
At least that’s according to interviews here with several Illini and Huskies players, who universally concurred that the media versions of Underwood and Hurley are not really an accurate portrayal of their personalities.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
O’Hara, who won Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series at the Actor Awards for her portrayal of producer Patty Leigh — the mentor to studio head Matt Remick, played by actor and The Studio co-creator Seth Rogen — was initially part of Season 2’s plans prior to her January 2026 death.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayal
Noun
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The tragicomic look at two lives on hold struck a chord; its depiction of a family bickering and bantering, and of the risks of intimacy, felt specific and true.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The video is a generally standard depiction of what teen takeovers have been looking like, also happening at Atlantic Station, the Battery, and the Beltline.—
Kaley Fedko,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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From lambs with quizzically cocked eyebrows, to lambs whose wooly coats are made of flower petals, to lambs that simply defy description.—
Deena Prichep,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
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The sergeant called in the vehicle’s description and direction of travel and police pulled him over and arrested him outside the jail.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The world demanded a simplified portrait; John provided it, and, after a while, the two merged.—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
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Rector Simon Mainwaring poses for a portrait in the library at Egleston Hall at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Atlanta on Monday, March 23, 2026.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The cover girl is Ger van Braam, an Indonesian woman who subscribed to The Ladder and sent her picture to the editor in search of kinship.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Thing is, those other 499 pictures didn’t look like that incredible Erceg shot.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayal. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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