Synonyms of portraying

portraying

verb

present participle of portray

1

as in describing

to give a representation or account of in words

the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• describing
• depicting
• painting
• rendering
• characterizing
• illustrating
• picturing
• delineating
• defining
• representing
• setting out
• sketching
• recounting
• drawing
• limning
• relating
• outlining
• displaying
• summarizing
• showing
• telling
• narrating
• imaging
• demonstrating
• exhibiting
• reporting
• suggesting
• labeling
• reciting
• labelling
• tracing
• hinting
• qualifying
• rehearsing
• drafting
• silhouetting
• summing up
• redescribing
• touching off
• reimaging
• vignetting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distorting
• misrepresenting
• twisting
• falsifying
• coloring
• warping
• misstating
• perverting
• misdescribing
• garbling

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

• describing
• characterizing
• depicting
• representing
• defining
• identifying
• charactering
• classifying
• categorizing
• indicating
• typing
• specifying
• pigeonholing
• marking
• distinguishing
• stamping
• naming
• coloring
• individualizing
• particularizing

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

• depicting
• representing
• describing
• picturing
• documenting
• imaging
• rendering
• showing
• outlining
• illustrating
• delineating
• sketching
• silhouetting
• caricaturing
• diagraming
• diagramming

4

as in playing

to present a portrayal or performance of

gained fame portraying Susan B. Anthony in a one-woman show

Synonyms & Similar Words

• playing
• performing
• depicting
• interpreting
• representing
• doing
• impersonating
• acting
• dramatizing
• enacting
• rendering
• imitating
• pantomiming
• mimicking
• acting out
• masquerading
• underplaying
• role-playing
• playacting
• overplaying
• aping
• overacting
• miming
• taking on
• posing (as)
• hamming
• clowning
• roleplaying
• costarring
• coacting
• starring (in)
• co-starring
• co-acting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of portraying

Grande has been open about the emotional journey of portraying Glinda, which had been her dream role throughout her career. —Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Farrar, portraying the observant and multilingual Demetrius, spoke about the invaluable experience of watching Davis and Anderson work. —Okla Jones, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025

Dedicated to the suspension of time, the booth displayed vignettes portraying urban landscapes, creating a sense of calmness in a dynamic setting. —Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025

After portraying Ben Stiller’s son, Nick Daley, in the Hollywood blockbuster, former child actor Jacob Cherry reflects on his unforgettable experience on set — and shares how his unexpected career shift away from acting is shaping his future. —Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025

In Full Frontal, Katt played the darkly humorous role of an actor portraying Adolf Hitler in a fictional play called The Sound and the Fuhrer. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025

From playing a female warrior to joining the DC Universe and portraying a relentless law professor, embodying strong-willed characters is her specialty. —Giana Levy, Refinery29, 10 Apr. 2025

Grande, 31, entered the SAG Awards with a score of nominations for portraying Glinda in Wicked, one of 2024's most popular movies. —Tommy McArdle, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025