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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portraying
Rather than acknowledging the reckless play that earned her suspension, Thomas immediately shifted the focus to herself, portraying her punishment, rather than the hit on Clark, as the real injustice.
—
Alejandro Avila Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Jaafar spoke about portraying the King of Pop, who’s also his uncle, in the film.
—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
Russian authorities have approached female university students with offers to become drone operators, portraying the role as a relatively safe technical profession.
—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
In France, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party has opportunistically seized on air-conditioning, portraying it as an urgent quality-of-life issue that moralizing environmentalists and overreaching technocrats have ignored.
—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
And another person portraying General Washington was on hand to work the crowd.
—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
27 June 2026
In portraying the fraught relationship between a young lesbian and her conservative mother, animation becomes both a barrier and a bridge, shielding lived trauma while reaching toward reconciliation and love.
—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
26 June 2026
Fair highlights Despite the ongoing issues, the sparse number of visitors entertained themselves with interactive exhibits, like dressing up as former President George Washington or speaking with an actress portraying Betsy Ross.
—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The duo starred together for eight seasons on Charmed, with Combs portraying one of the Halliwell sisters, Piper, and Krause as their guardian angel, Leo.
—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 June 2026
Alejandro Avila Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Jaafar spoke about portraying the King of Pop, who’s also his uncle, in the film.
—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
Russian authorities have approached female university students with offers to become drone operators, portraying the role as a relatively safe technical profession.
—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
In France, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party has opportunistically seized on air-conditioning, portraying it as an urgent quality-of-life issue that moralizing environmentalists and overreaching technocrats have ignored.
—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
And another person portraying General Washington was on hand to work the crowd.
—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
27 June 2026
In portraying the fraught relationship between a young lesbian and her conservative mother, animation becomes both a barrier and a bridge, shielding lived trauma while reaching toward reconciliation and love.
—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
26 June 2026
Fair highlights Despite the ongoing issues, the sparse number of visitors entertained themselves with interactive exhibits, like dressing up as former President George Washington or speaking with an actress portraying Betsy Ross.
—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The duo starred together for eight seasons on Charmed, with Combs portraying one of the Halliwell sisters, Piper, and Krause as their guardian angel, Leo.
—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portraying
Verb
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Iran’s semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) wrote about the 1989 funeral earlier this week, describing how the enormous crowds exceeded the numbers expected by authorities.
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Furthermore, Bavarian state lawmaker Bernhard Pohl also welcomed the move, describing it as a long-term guarantee for the future of the Kaufbeuren location and its role within Germany’s expanding missile defense network.
Verb
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White added some thoughts about focusing in on people, characterizing what often happens in collaborations.
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Supporters of the high-earner tax for public education have been quick to stress it’s been in place for more than a decade, characterizing any rollback of it as a tax cut for the wealthy.
Verb
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The biggest of these controversies erupted in April after the president shared a post depicting himself as Jesus Christ, amid his feud with Pope Leo XIV.
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The masks are often vibrant and colorful but sometimes intimidating, depicting superheroes, animals or other symbolic figures.
Verb
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Win prizes playing interactive games, network with artists and entrepreneurs and enjoy signature drinks and bar snacks available for purchase.
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Men leaders can pay attention to and be mindful of who in the workplace may be playing more of an emotional support role that falls outside their job description.
Verb
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Clark, a DFLer, served the Minnesota House from 1981 until her retirement in 2019, representing part of south Minneapolis.
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That proposal drew opposition from unions and associations representing teachers and school employees.
Verb
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But performing fealty to that naïve and impoverished picture of judging had become nearly de rigueur for both liberals and conservatives.
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Isolation in many American settlements required a self-reliant approach to performing music.
Verb
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Look for flattering lengths, breathable fabrics, and waist-defining details.
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The last week has seen frenzy spill over for what will be an era-defining, royal-level wedding.
Verb
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The authors recommended that the US government and its commercial and international partners establish benchmarks for interpreting hostile behavior in space.
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Those two truths are core to our mission of researching, collecting, preserving, and interpreting Black art, history, and culture.
Cite this Entry
“Portraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portraying. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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