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
Relevance
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 artist was beloved by Americans for his intimate portrayals of the country’s values.
—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
25 June 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
Monuments offered a fitting answer to those still asking what should be done with heroic portrayals of such figures.
—
Julie Belcove,
Robb Report,
16 June 2026
Ford, meanwhile, was already one of Hollywood’s biggest stars thanks to his portrayals of Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
The film won three Oscars and has since been widely cited as one of Hollywood’s most influential portrayals of the tech industry.
—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Dean Cain has repeatedly taken issue with modern portrayals of superheroes, from Superman and Supergirl to Captain America.
—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 June 2026
The Boroughs is not a frightening show, monster snack-time portrayals notwithstanding.
—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
25 June 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
Monuments offered a fitting answer to those still asking what should be done with heroic portrayals of such figures.
—
Julie Belcove,
Robb Report,
16 June 2026
Ford, meanwhile, was already one of Hollywood’s biggest stars thanks to his portrayals of Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
The film won three Oscars and has since been widely cited as one of Hollywood’s most influential portrayals of the tech industry.
—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Dean Cain has repeatedly taken issue with modern portrayals of superheroes, from Superman and Supergirl to Captain America.
—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 June 2026
The Boroughs is not a frightening show, monster snack-time portrayals notwithstanding.
—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayals
Noun
-
My favorite depictions of this city know its real history is too cuckoo to capture sincerely; straight reenactments make the production of 35mm masterpieces look as piddly as Shrinky Dinks.
-
The bell’s pyramidal face is decorated with depictions of deceased kings and queens, and its toll was believed to invoke ancestral spirits.
Noun
-
The women’s portraits did not contain SynthID watermarks, but an AI detection tool flagged them as containing synthetic elements.
-
Many museums around the world, including the Met, the Getty, and the Musée d’Orsay, own examples of his genre scenes, landscapes, and portraits.
Noun
-
The platform helps users build ATS-friendly resumes using professional templates, then compares those resumes against real job descriptions to identify missing keywords, skills, and qualifications.
-
Investigators have determined the two attacks are unrelated, due to vastly different descriptions of the suspects, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
Noun
-
Other pictures on unofficial Telegram channels showed residents crowding into underground stations.
-
Ranging from the film pioneer Georges Méliès all the way through 2024’s Anora, Thomson’s survey covers silent pictures, the talkies, the studio era, the New Hollywood, and the age of streaming.
Cite this Entry
“Portrayals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayals. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
