1
as in describing
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 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
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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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Recent Examples of portraying
Trump has publicly commented on Paramount along the way, sometimes portraying the Ellisons as his friends and specifically expressing interest in the family taking over CNN.
—
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
Valadao’s backers have already started to emphasize his moderate views while portraying Villegas’ progressive politics as out-of-step with many district voters.
—Mathew Miranda
june 12, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
The stories focused on portraying her as a calculating social climber who only pursued the president’s oldest son to gain access to his wealth, power and celebrity, the Daily Mail also said.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
He was also widely known to younger audiences for portraying Sam McGuire, the father of Hilary Duff’s title character, on Lizzie McGuire and The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
—Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Both the Blue Jackets and Jenner issued statements on social media saying that Bissonnette was unfairly portraying the interaction.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 11 June 2026
He's played by Jamie Hector, best known for portraying Jerry Edgar on Bosch and gangster Marlo Stanfield on The Wire.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
Mendes is best known for portraying Veronica Lodge on Riverdale, which was based on the Archie Comics and lasted for seven seasons on The CW between 2017 and 2023.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
What did that film teach you about the challenge of portraying political differences without turning people into caricatures?
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
Valadao’s backers have already started to emphasize his moderate views while portraying Villegas’ progressive politics as out-of-step with many district voters.
—Mathew Miranda
june 12, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
The stories focused on portraying her as a calculating social climber who only pursued the president’s oldest son to gain access to his wealth, power and celebrity, the Daily Mail also said.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
He was also widely known to younger audiences for portraying Sam McGuire, the father of Hilary Duff’s title character, on Lizzie McGuire and The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
—Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Both the Blue Jackets and Jenner issued statements on social media saying that Bissonnette was unfairly portraying the interaction.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 11 June 2026
He's played by Jamie Hector, best known for portraying Jerry Edgar on Bosch and gangster Marlo Stanfield on The Wire.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
Mendes is best known for portraying Veronica Lodge on Riverdale, which was based on the Archie Comics and lasted for seven seasons on The CW between 2017 and 2023.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
What did that film teach you about the challenge of portraying political differences without turning people into caricatures?
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portraying
Verb
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Kardashian has been one of the most vocal celebrities about using exercise to relieve stress, describing the gym as essential for clearing her head and managing anxiety.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026
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Officials in neighboring Boston are excited about the temporary flexibility, describing the extended last call as an economic boon, not just during the World Cup but also other high-level summer events.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
Verb
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So much of The Last Supper involved characterizing songs, movies, music videos, paintings, and so on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
Many in the scientific research community disagree, characterizing the changes as the White House attempting to usurp autonomy from scientists and career civil servants.—
Allison DeAngelis,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The Christ-like image and a video Trump posted depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes were both deleted after backlash.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
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Wynn, who died last spring and for whom a wing of Zumthor’s aerodynamic structure is named, donated a Francis Bacon triptych depicting Bacon’s friend and fellow-painter Lucian Freud, the only Bacons on display in a public Los Angeles museum.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
Verb
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With fewer matches, shorter timelines and captaincy playing a huge role, identifying the right elite assets can make or break your World Cup Fantasy campaign.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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Simmons fits in nicely alongside eighth-graders Ella Parece and Molly Buffington, all playing a big role in the run this time.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The margin for the second advancer representing downtown, Land Park, Tahoe Park and the Florin area of south Sacramento remained too close to call.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
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The aircraft was to be a love child of French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and European aerospace group Airbus, representing Germany.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The exponential return on our positively performing company outweighs the losers.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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Pop stars Katy Perry and Tius Luka helped kick off the festivities, performing during the tournament’s opening ceremony before the United States faced Paraguay.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
Verb
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That was the defining feature of the immediate aftermath of one of the most iconic basketball wins ever.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
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And edged to the north by the Great Lakes, is a now defining coastal culture with a history that drove industrial innovation, military security and trade.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Writing a memoir is a little like opening yourself up to people interpreting your words in a number of different ways.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
4 June 2026
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Whether re-interpreting traditional stories and designs or expressing contemporary issues affecting tribal societies, Native glass artists have created a content-laden body of work.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portraying. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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