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
Advertisement The Chinese government has also made a concerted effort to disseminate more positive portrayals of China over social media.
—
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
The midfielder’s underwhelming start to life on Tyneside, exacerbated by an ankle injury suffered on his first start at Leeds in August, compounded that portrayal, particularly given Ramsey was supposed to be Premier League-proven and have an immediate impact.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Their commitment to authentic portrayals of geopolitics and the espionage business, set inside compelling dramas, makes this a natural home for my work.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2026
This belief appears to be rooted in outdated models of addiction, public misunderstanding and media portrayals that frame addiction as solely a problem of physical dependence.
—Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
The midfielder’s underwhelming start to life on Tyneside, exacerbated by an ankle injury suffered on his first start at Leeds in August, compounded that portrayal, particularly given Ramsey was supposed to be Premier League-proven and have an immediate impact.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Their commitment to authentic portrayals of geopolitics and the espionage business, set inside compelling dramas, makes this a natural home for my work.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2026
This belief appears to be rooted in outdated models of addiction, public misunderstanding and media portrayals that frame addiction as solely a problem of physical dependence.
—Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayal
Noun
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Frederick Wiseman, the pioneering documentary filmmaker whose penetrating, observational depictions of public institutions raised ethical issues and provoked social examination, has died.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Feb. 2026
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Siqueira said her most meaningful tattoo is a depiction of a phoenix.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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From the video, investigators got a clear vehicle description, including a license plate number.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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What is the description of the suspect?—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Written like a field research journal, Emily Wilde is a clever and charming portrait of a scientist on a journey toward discovery, hard at work in the field and stumbling toward love, all at the same time.—
Brianne Kane,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
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The finale, which focuses on a single subject (obsessed with and thus defensive of his own public nudity), comes closest to escaping a steady stream of antagonization and painting a nuanced portrait of what’s keeping a range of Americans from finding community.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Because many of the adaptations of Wuthering Heights are, in truth, variations on Wyler’s picture, which was insanely successful all over the world.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
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The goal is to capture a clearer picture of how rapid population growth, rising prices and infrastructure gaps are shaping daily life for families across North Texas.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayal. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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