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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 Both portrayals belong to a media era in which access was scarce and securing coverage sat at the center of the job. — Julia Ruttner, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026 Their portrayals, mixing ferocious strength with stark vulnerability, make the tragedy’s pileup of bodies at the end all the more piercing. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on presidential portrayals and summer sips. — FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Google became embroiled in a prior controversy in February 2024 after its Gemini text-to-image tool produced portrayals of racially diverse German WW2 soldiers. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026 Researchers said participants wanted content creators, influencers and television and film producers to offer more nuanced and authentic portrayals of religion and spirituality. — City News Service, Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026 Growing up, Schoenbrun sadly got used to seeing negative portrayals of trans characters in films. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 Jeremy Davies delivers one of the better, more charismatic portrayals of Manson in this second adaptation of Helter Skelter, which aired on CBS in 2004. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 Film portrayals, even or perhaps especially powerful ones that change the legal landscape, often leave out the background socioeconomic considerations that shape individual decisions. — Vanessa Rampton, STAT, 5 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayals
  1. depictions
  2. portraits
  3. descriptions
  4. pictures
Noun
  • Imitation isn’t always a form of flattery, as evidenced by these stars’ reactions to on-screen depictions of their lives.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
  • At times, Kalshi used the marks of other soccer leagues outside of Mexico instead of generic depictions.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of depictions
Noun
  • Earlier this year, Detroit Institute of Arts director Salvador Salort-Pons, a scholar on Velázquez who is curating an exhibition on portraits of the Count-Duke of Olivares, published his findings in the Museo Prado’s ARS Magazine.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The portraits will put a smile on any dog lover’s face, but Friedman’s favorite part is hearing people talk about their dog.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of portraits
Noun
  • However, the discovery of the wall provides some evidence to support Caesar’s descriptions.
    — Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Full character descriptions for the guest stars can be found below.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of descriptions
Noun
  • This is on top of Perez Hilton and plenty of other sites (Gawker included) that would just flat-out insult people, draw nasty things on their pictures, and just generally malign them.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Post-ballet, Sorbara will walk ten blocks south of Lincoln Center for a borscht martini at Russian Samovar, where, fittingly, the walls are adorned with pictures of Baryshnikov.
    — Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 22 Sep. 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 28 Sep. 2026.

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