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
On-screen, Armitage’s portrayal of the socially awkward Sheldon has earned him critical acclaim.
—
Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Reaction from the Jackson family has also been pretty mixed, with some of them backing the movie completely and others, like Jackson’s daughter Paris, being very critical of the portrayal.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 May 2026
Advertisement Throughout the narrative, Johnson never flinches in his portrayal of the wreck, unleashing footage of investigators approaching the car and the victims’ families.
—Jake King-Schreifels, Time, 15 May 2026
Hammond points to his own portrayal of Bill Clinton as an example.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Reaction from the Jackson family has also been pretty mixed, with some of them backing the movie completely and others, like Jackson’s daughter Paris, being very critical of the portrayal.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 May 2026
Advertisement Throughout the narrative, Johnson never flinches in his portrayal of the wreck, unleashing footage of investigators approaching the car and the victims’ families.
—Jake King-Schreifels, Time, 15 May 2026
Hammond points to his own portrayal of Bill Clinton as an example.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayal
Noun
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The clip, which promoted various conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, included a depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Critics also felt the depiction of the 'Guryu Myeonryugwan' crown (a traditional royal headpiece historically associated with vassal state rituals) was incorrect.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Bucks center Myles Turner had some blunt descriptions of this past season with ex-coach Doc Rivers and superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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The description spotlights a pool that doesn’t just sit in the yard — it’s designed into the land itself.—
David Caraccio
May 16,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
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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
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Related Stories Laird plays Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, a daughter of the lower-middle classes who uses her skills as a portrait painter to hustle her way into the royal court of Versailles.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Knowing your full debt picture helps determine which options make sense and which ones don't.—
Joshua Sidorowicz,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
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The second time around, the pair finally took a photo together after the game — the same picture now featured in Ashley’s viral TikTok chronicling the beginning of their relationship.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayal. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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