1
as in describing
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 characterizing
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 depicting
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 playing
to present a portrayal or performance of
gained fame portraying Susan B. Anthony in a one-woman show
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portraying
Ann Jillian went from a Disney child star to a '80s sitcom favorite, even portraying her own battle with cancer on screen.
—
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Yes, Jaafar is actually singing while portraying Michael, with the late singer's vocals also being blended into some of the tracks.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
The actor also praised William Shatner for having previously taken to social media to share his blessing for Wesley portraying the same character that Shatner originated in the initial series.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2026
Jaafar Jackson, the real-life nephew of Michael Jackson, is portraying the King of Pop in the film, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long playing his parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
An earlier version of the film is already notorious for portraying the first of those allegations as an extortion attempt before pricey rewrites and reshoots.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
The production features over 20 actors portraying characters from a wide range of nationalities and backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the real-life camp.
—Ray Campos, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Acting career Allen next turned to acting, portraying Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor in the film How to Build a Girl (2019).
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
Noah and Allie’s love story is told over decades, with three pairs of actors portraying the couple as teenagers, adults and older adults.
—Pamela Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Yes, Jaafar is actually singing while portraying Michael, with the late singer's vocals also being blended into some of the tracks.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
The actor also praised William Shatner for having previously taken to social media to share his blessing for Wesley portraying the same character that Shatner originated in the initial series.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2026
Jaafar Jackson, the real-life nephew of Michael Jackson, is portraying the King of Pop in the film, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long playing his parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
An earlier version of the film is already notorious for portraying the first of those allegations as an extortion attempt before pricey rewrites and reshoots.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
The production features over 20 actors portraying characters from a wide range of nationalities and backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the real-life camp.
—Ray Campos, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Acting career Allen next turned to acting, portraying Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor in the film How to Build a Girl (2019).
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
Noah and Allie’s love story is told over decades, with three pairs of actors portraying the couple as teenagers, adults and older adults.
—Pamela Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portraying
Verb
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British maritime monitors confirmed the incidents, describing one cargo ship left disabled in the water and another that took heavy damage to its bridge.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
At a lecture at Aarhus University in 2015, Bar-Natan distributed a handout describing his goals.—
Erica Klarreich,
Quanta Magazine,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The author portrays Huntington Beach’s conservative leadership as opportunistic political actors seeking to weaponize local grievances for statewide power, characterizing their efforts to expand influence as built on cultural controversies rather than substantive governance achievements.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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Mandy Joye, an oceanographer specializing in microbiology at the University of Georgia, has spent decades characterizing microbes in hydrocarbon-rich habitats across the Gulf.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Italian artisans were flown in to hand paint the fresco ceilings, often depicting Renaissance landscapes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
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In Mars’s office, near his own impressive executive desk (a Vladimir Kagan), hangs a mixed media artwork depicting legendary MCs like Queen Latifah, Slick Rick, Rakim, and Nas (a business partner of Mars’s).—
Lola Ogunnaike,
Architectural Digest,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the reports surfaced that the Saudis were cutting off LIV’s funding, the league was playing a tournament in Mexico City.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
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Promotion to League One in just their second attempt after taking 132 years to reach the EFL is one thing, but their playing style under former Brentford and Northampton goalkeeper Andy Woodman only adds to the curiosity around them.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The civil action was filed on April 8 in Hartford Superior Court by attorney Tim O’Keefe, who is representing the family of the child.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
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Mealy is a City Council member representing parts of Brooklyn.—
Darlene Mealy,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, said in a statement that the renowned performing artist will offer a thrilling glimpse into the minds of newsmakers.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
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For the project, Theron, famous for performing the vast majority of her stunts in action films like Atomic Blonde and The Old Guard, trained with rock climber Beth Rodden to believably portray Sasha, an avid adventurer.—
Nigel Smith,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Again, there is no official criterion defining a low-contact relationship, so don’t get hung up on labels.—
Ashley Oerman,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2026
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Supreme Indigo is the mill’s defining color story for the season.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This excitement could be explained by the novelty of photos from space, but these images also distinguish themselves as products of astronauts experiencing these sights and interpreting them through their photographs.—
Christye Sisson,
The Conversation,
13 Apr. 2026
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The robots are also capable of identifying objects, detecting motion, interpreting emotional cues, and responding accordingly.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portraying. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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