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
In the film — her first since portraying opera diva Maria Callas in last year’s Maria — the Oscar winner, 50, stars as Maxine, an American film director hired to make a video for a Paris fashion event amid being diagnosed with breast cancer and navigating a divorce.
—
Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The museum's mission is to tell America's story by portraying people who shaped its history and culture.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Hers is a supporting but impactful role, with Straus navigating the weight of portraying the daughter of a recovering alcoholic and aspiring performer.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
Foster, who has always been skilled at portraying male fragility in its many forms, is horrifying here (a compliment).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Springsteen talked about having watched the very first screening of the film the night before with his sister, Pamela, who is seen as a youngster in the many black-and-white flashback scenes portraying their upbringing in Freehold, NJ.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
The Richard Jewell star has also had discussions about portraying Teddy Roosevelt and wrestler Mick Foley.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Moscow and Beijing separately denounced the move, portraying it as misguided and counterproductive.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2025
Mahanandia appears in it, as do actors portraying the younger PK and Lotta.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The museum's mission is to tell America's story by portraying people who shaped its history and culture.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Hers is a supporting but impactful role, with Straus navigating the weight of portraying the daughter of a recovering alcoholic and aspiring performer.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
Foster, who has always been skilled at portraying male fragility in its many forms, is horrifying here (a compliment).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Springsteen talked about having watched the very first screening of the film the night before with his sister, Pamela, who is seen as a youngster in the many black-and-white flashback scenes portraying their upbringing in Freehold, NJ.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
The Richard Jewell star has also had discussions about portraying Teddy Roosevelt and wrestler Mick Foley.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Moscow and Beijing separately denounced the move, portraying it as misguided and counterproductive.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2025
Mahanandia appears in it, as do actors portraying the younger PK and Lotta.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portraying
Verb
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Soliman fled to the United States in 2014 on a visitor visa and later filed a petition for asylum, describing how security forces over the years had locked him up on false charges and tortured him with electrical shocks.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
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The aging brick walls, high arched wooden ceiling and original decorative elements of the Renaissance-era building provided quite a contrast with speakers who were describing the latest in present and future technologies.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And, since Congress expects workers and employers to be (cough) creative when characterizing wages as tips to avoid paying taxes on otherwise taxable income, Treasury is authorized to issue additional guidance to prevent abuse.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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By contrast, Ka’iana and his family’s landing spot with Kamehameha’s base of power in Hawaii, as well as their foes, needed to be grounded in the land, while still doing the work of characterizing the different factions.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Even the wraparound mural in the hotel’s lobby nods to Ojai’s past, depicting figures such as Edward Libbey, the developer of the town’s downtown area, ceramicist Beatrice Wood and spiritual figure Jiddu Krishnamurti.—
Degen Pener,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Sep. 2025
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An immersive installation, the window display was unveiled with live models dressed in key items from the Moncler Genius collection with Enninful walking and interacting with the video panels depicting the mountain environment.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rookie Anthony Belton, playing right tackle for an injured Zach Tom, had a holding penalty that negated a 39-yard touchdown to Jayden Reed.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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But there is something to getting in a room and all playing music together, which is what that record was born from.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Christian Ulvert, the Levine Cava campaign guru now representing Democratic candidates for sheriff, tax collector and elections supervisor, said Republican turnout has his party needing to play catch up until the end and flip past election patterns on their head.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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In the clip, Biles flips through the gym in a Houston Texans jersey, representing her home state and Owens.—
Stephanie Barnes,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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During the annual Rhythm & Roots Reunion festival, Shanghai is the first to set up a stage for performing bands.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
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Yungblud is performing at the 2025 MTV VMAs as part of a special tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, who died at age 76 on July 22.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Crevoiserat is looking at the global handbag opportunity anew, defining the total addressable market not by how many people bought bags last year, but how many people could have.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
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Flexibility has also become a defining factor.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Think of it as a hospital’s central nervous system for information — continuously gathering signals, interpreting them, and routing critical insights where they are needed most.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Managing and interpreting the flood of data would be impossible without machine intelligence.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portraying. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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