1
as in described
to give a representation or account of in words
the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in characterized
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
traditionally, European authors portrayed the natives as wise and noble
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in depicted
to present a picture of
a landscape that portrays the scenery near the town where the painter grew up
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4
as in played
to present a portrayal or performance of
gained fame portraying Susan B. Anthony in a one-woman show
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Recent Examples of portrayed
Stone portrayed the tennis great in the 2017 film Battle of the Sexes, while Cumming appeared as tennis official Ted Tinling.
—
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
Some are violent in nature, showing guns pointing at the oppressive establishment, usually portrayed as pigs.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
The animals are portrayed by puppets wielded by Magill and Anastasia Muñoz, who serves as the production’s movement director.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Each of the 12 zodiac signs are featured, including the Virgo portrayed by a young woman with a unicorn and Aquarius as a water bearer with a jug overflowing with whimsy.
—Micaela English, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026
On the contrary, even its most outlandish and grotesque inventions are portrayed tastefully, with a sheen of aesthetic refinement that turns the most intensely emotional moments into emblems of emotion.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
The release date marks exactly two decades after the beloved TV show, in which Cyrus portrayed the alter ego blonde musician, debuted on Disney Channel (March 24, 2006).
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026
Actors who have portrayed Jackson on screen include Nigel Gibbs in the TV series Monster (2022), and Eddie Murphy famously parodied Jackson on Saturday Night Live in 1984.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
In vacating the life prison term in 2024, Cook County Judge Marc Martin found in part that Modrowski had been unfairly portrayed as emotionless and cold during his 1995 trial and sentencing proceedings when the characteristics were likely due to his autism.
—Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
Some are violent in nature, showing guns pointing at the oppressive establishment, usually portrayed as pigs.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
The animals are portrayed by puppets wielded by Magill and Anastasia Muñoz, who serves as the production’s movement director.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Each of the 12 zodiac signs are featured, including the Virgo portrayed by a young woman with a unicorn and Aquarius as a water bearer with a jug overflowing with whimsy.
—Micaela English, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026
On the contrary, even its most outlandish and grotesque inventions are portrayed tastefully, with a sheen of aesthetic refinement that turns the most intensely emotional moments into emblems of emotion.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
The release date marks exactly two decades after the beloved TV show, in which Cyrus portrayed the alter ego blonde musician, debuted on Disney Channel (March 24, 2006).
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026
Actors who have portrayed Jackson on screen include Nigel Gibbs in the TV series Monster (2022), and Eddie Murphy famously parodied Jackson on Saturday Night Live in 1984.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
In vacating the life prison term in 2024, Cook County Judge Marc Martin found in part that Modrowski had been unfairly portrayed as emotionless and cold during his 1995 trial and sentencing proceedings when the characteristics were likely due to his autism.
—Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayed
Verb
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The 30-year-old Somali American, who also co-owns a Mediterranean restaurant in the same area experiencing similar economic tribulations, described his coffee shops as local melting pots for Muslims and non-Muslims, East Africans and White people.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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But one person familiar with the decisions told Semafor that at least one executive from a company described by the survey had reached out to multiple outlets asking for the pieces to be taken down, arguing that the survey data was faulty and biased.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Conflicting views on standard practice McCann characterized his coordination with the city manager as routine.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
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Critics including Sacramento State students have at times characterized Wood as focused too closely on university athletics at the expense of academics, while Wood has repeatedly touted FBS promotion as a worthwhile investment.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During a recent appearance on Brian Tyler Cohen’s podcast, Barack Obama gave his reaction after an AI video was posted to Donald Trump‘s Truth Social account that depicted the former president and his first lady, Michelle, as apes.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
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The result is a war that mostly remains unseen, at times evoking the way Jonathan Glazer depicted Auschwitz in The Zone of Interest.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Every one of the NFL’s 32 teams has played a regular-season game outside the United States and is signed up to the league’s Global Markets Program.—
Tom Chitty,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
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Savolainen played a huge role in Finland’s historic run in the 2019 hockey women’s world championship, in which the country made it to the final against the United States who, along with Canada, had previously dominated the competition and its gold medal matches.—
Hannah Ryan,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Despite having the latest safety gear and being in a group of other experienced riders, as well as the assistance of an off-duty Truckee fire department medic, who performed CPR, Thomason did not survive.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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As more Americans moved into cities and more families bought cars, fewer kids walked miles to school or performed farm chores.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Finally, no credible evidence demonstrates the kind of unambiguous, exclusive genocidal intent toward Palestinians that international law requires and that cannot be reasonably interpreted otherwise.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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As a judge, my responsibility is not to evaluate whether legislation is good or bad policy, but to apply the law as enacted by the General Assembly and interpreted by appellate courts.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayed. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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