portrayals

noun

plural of portrayal
as in depictions
a vivid representation in words of someone or something his novel presents a moving portrayal of a woman searching for personal fulfillment and happiness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of portrayals The report suggests that idealized portrayals of dating on social media may be affecting confidence and expectations, in some cases as much as or more than rejection itself. — Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 20 July 2026 Forget about military might, imperialism, and portrayals of heroic feats, though. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 17 July 2026 Some of the first reports indicated that Adebayo threw a punch at Herro’s head before the two were separated, but some league sources have indicated that initial portrayals of the fight were overblown. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026 Seeing Black children and their families living ordinary yet robust lives in stories undermines negative portrayals. — Brooke Harris Garad, The Conversation, 14 July 2026 Born This Way, produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, debuted on A&E in 2015 and quickly won over critics and audiences with its honest and empathetic portrayals of the challenges and achievements of seven adults with Down syndrome. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 July 2026 Since then, portrayals of rural America have been up and down. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 8 July 2026 The series has been praised for its heartfelt storylines and realistic portrayals of grief, loneliness, and the process of processing it all. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 For every blockbuster streaming series about a notorious serial killer, there’s a discussion to be had about whether anyone is benefitting from gruesome TV portrayals that some feel glamorize killers and exploit their victims. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayals
  1. depictions
  2. portraits
  3. descriptions
  4. pictures
Noun
  • The series’ blend of soapy melodramatics and rough-and-tumble underworld menace will be familiar to anybody who has watched Power, but Power and its spinoffs have always been confident in their only-for-adults depictions of adults-only situations.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
  • But Smith’s energy goes toward perfecting the Damon Albarn impression in its silly hook rather than galvanizing the otherwise lackluster depictions of friendship in his lyrics.
    — Victoria Borlando, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026
Definition of depictions
Noun
  • Iosseliani’s poetic portraits of life on the Soviet periphery range from neorealist documentation of collective farms to playful snapshots of Tbilisi, with a light touch reminiscent of the French New Wave.
    — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
  • At the time, the space was filled with tables and shelves overflowing with antiques, tchotchkes and vintage portraits from a lifetime of collecting.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Definition of portraits
Noun
  • Colonial chroniclers recorded epidemics, but their descriptions cannot always identify the responsible pathogen or follow its spread through Indigenous communities.
    — Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 30 July 2026
  • Sell the position through concise job descriptions, transparent salary ranges, and highlighting small business advantages like flexibility and impact.
    — Rob Falzon, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of descriptions
Noun
  • The charging document also cited one of the many messages Dumarce sent to Cole, including some previously cited by Cole that included threats with pictures of her children.
    — Margaret Baker, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
  • Anticipate major developments, as the Lesnar-Femi clash is highly watched, potentially shaping future title pictures.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of pictures

Browse Nearby Words

portrayal
portrayals
portrayed
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Cite this Entry

“Portrayals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayals. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of portrayals for Spanish Speakers

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