portrayed

past tense of portray
1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

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 portrayed The actress portrayed Tori Scott on the final season of the teen comedy. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2026 Fans can also enjoy special appearances from Scott Patterson, who portrayed Luke Danes, including live podcast events and photo opportunities available for an additional purchase. — Carole Horst, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026 The pair have portrayed on screen father and son in a number of movies and series, most recently on Anger Management, the multi-camera sitcom that premiered on FX in 2012, and most famously in Wall Street. — Peter White, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026 Rather than accusing him of entering Moïse’s residence or firing a weapon, prosecutors portrayed him as a Sanon supporter who provided resources for the operation and stood to benefit from the government that conspirators hoped to install afterward. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026 Jaffe’s scientist is portrayed with the actor’s usual resourcefulness. — Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026 The contestants train under Dorian Fylnt, a hilariously demanding choreographer portrayed by SNL host and New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson. — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2026 Tucked away in those clips is Peter Ostrum — the man who portrayed the original Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film. — Sara Belcher, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026 Her excellent debut, 2007’s Free Food for Millionaires, features upwardly mobile Korean Americans whose desire for security Lee portrayed both sympathetically and critically. — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayed
Verb
  • Tensions had already intensified Monday when Pakistani fighter jets struck sites in eastern Afghanistan that Islamabad described as militant hideouts.
    — MUNIR AHMED, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Maduko’s behavior, as described in the report, appears to have grown increasingly aggressive in his alleged harassment of women in the CSCU system.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The cancer is characterized by abnormal, accelerated growth of squamous cells, according to the foundation.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The active Pacific hurricane season is likely due to a record-setting El Niño — a natural climate pattern characterized by a rise in sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific, which can spawn more intense and frequent cyclones there.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Salort-Pons’s X-ray analysis showed that this costume was the one Velázquez had originally depicted Olivares wearing.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Like the woolly rhino, the Irish elk is depicted on the cave walls of Chauvet in France.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • One recent three-month period saw the release of three film adaptations of acclaimed novels in which ghosts played a starring role.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The 30-year-old actress, who was named the Chinese brand ambassador for Kors last March, made her acting debut at 10 and has played numerous roles in historical, fantasy and romantic dramas.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Also remember that anytime suspension components such as lower control arms are replaced, a wheel alignment should be performed afterward to ensure proper tire wear and handling.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Fans of the Indiana Hoosiers, a program that came from literally nothing to reach the pantheon of college football, are a little miffed with how the team has performed early in the season.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • They should not be interpreted as personal endorsements or guarantees.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The top designers’ collections interpreted the contemporary world through research, experimentation and their personal vision of fashion.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Portrayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayed. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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