1
as in described
to give a representation or account of in words
the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
While Raman portrayed herself as the focus of attacks from both opponents, Bass’ campaign rejected that framing as a distraction from her debate performance and City Council record.
—
Teresa Liu, Daily News, 8 May 2026
The villain-combo movie would put the breathing-apparatus Batman baddie, Bane, back on screen for his first appearance since 2012’s Christopher Nolan-directed The Dark Knight Rises, then portrayed by Tom Hardy.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 8 May 2026
Superintendent Julious Lawson celebrated the campaign the district undertook to overhaul its data collection and monitoring process, which had portrayed the district in a very grim light.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Lu’s lawyer, John Carman portrayed the case as a mundane bureaucratic blip, not an international spy thriller.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Because certain members portrayed didn’t leave expansive journals, Fehrman sometimes has to rely on conjecture or push his imaginative reconstruction too far.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 6 May 2026
Pratt is portrayed as Batman in the video, swooping in to save the day.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Colter, who portrayed Cage, and Finn Jones, who played Danny Rand, were seen reprising their roles.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
McKidd has portrayed the trauma surgeon since the Season 5 premiere in 2008.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Teresa Liu, Daily News, 8 May 2026
The villain-combo movie would put the breathing-apparatus Batman baddie, Bane, back on screen for his first appearance since 2012’s Christopher Nolan-directed The Dark Knight Rises, then portrayed by Tom Hardy.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 8 May 2026
Superintendent Julious Lawson celebrated the campaign the district undertook to overhaul its data collection and monitoring process, which had portrayed the district in a very grim light.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Lu’s lawyer, John Carman portrayed the case as a mundane bureaucratic blip, not an international spy thriller.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Because certain members portrayed didn’t leave expansive journals, Fehrman sometimes has to rely on conjecture or push his imaginative reconstruction too far.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 6 May 2026
Pratt is portrayed as Batman in the video, swooping in to save the day.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Colter, who portrayed Cage, and Finn Jones, who played Danny Rand, were seen reprising their roles.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
McKidd has portrayed the trauma surgeon since the Season 5 premiere in 2008.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayed
Verb
-
South Africa's health department had said around 150 tourists were on board at the time of the outbreak, while online tour operators said the Hondius — described as a specialist polar cruise ship — usually travels with around 70 crew members.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
-
His name shot to the national stage when McBath described his case during a congressional hearing with then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem at the beginning of March.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
And yet, when Obama won the Presidency, Bush greeted him with graceful comments of welcome, and then embarked on a retirement characterized by reticence.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Botstein has consistently characterized his relationship with Epstein as being focused solely on fundraising.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Space kills with patience, and often much more painfully than the instant deaths depicted in cinema, unfolding over seconds, days, minutes, or even years.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
-
Pratt’s campaign video depicted a bustling, lively, and clean Los Angeles.—
Britta Miller,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Curry played in five games after surgery to repair a broken second metacarpal.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
-
Nobody had seen a second round playoff game played in Minnesota in more than a decade.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Some of the greatest arias in the genre, performed flawlessly by Jonathan Tetelman.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Blue Origin New Glenn mission on payload Blue Ring’s first mission with initial injection into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), with additional services performed in Geostationary Orbit (GEO).—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While Leo’s predecessors often had their words interpreted or subtitled in English, the current pope speaks in a mid-western accent, allowing his words and interventions to have a greater impact with an anglophone audience.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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Several observers fear the sanctions are being interpreted domestically as evidence that Washington is prepared to tolerate constitutional changes so long as Tshisekedi remains aligned with US strategic interests.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayed. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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