1
as in describes
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 characterizes
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 depicts
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 plays
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 portrays
The film also marks the screen debut of Mark Merphy, who portrays Nelson as a young man in flashback.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Mar. 2026
Playing alongside Clarence Muse, who portrays a tenant farmer, Fetchit was cast as the clichéd buffoon, lazy and happy-go-lucky.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Shields portrays midfielder Jordan Henderson in the show that stars Joseph Fiennes as England’s men’s team manager.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
The Easton native portrays Doris Stevens, one of the activists who fought for the right to cast a ballot.
—Courtney Cole, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Kelly portrays Gentile as, at once, the FBI’s best and most frustrating lead.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
Ahead of an April 12 election, Orbán’s anti-Ukraine campaign portrays the nation as a threat to Hungary and European peace.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The recording, which does not capture what led up to the moment in which the video began, reportedly portrays an incident for which Paul was arrested in 2023, according to TMZ.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
Orbán, who is trailing in opinion polls ahead of elections next month, has leaned heavily on an election campaign that portrays Zelenskyy as an existential threat to Hungary.
—Lorne Cook The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Mar. 2026
Playing alongside Clarence Muse, who portrays a tenant farmer, Fetchit was cast as the clichéd buffoon, lazy and happy-go-lucky.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Shields portrays midfielder Jordan Henderson in the show that stars Joseph Fiennes as England’s men’s team manager.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
The Easton native portrays Doris Stevens, one of the activists who fought for the right to cast a ballot.
—Courtney Cole, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Kelly portrays Gentile as, at once, the FBI’s best and most frustrating lead.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
Ahead of an April 12 election, Orbán’s anti-Ukraine campaign portrays the nation as a threat to Hungary and European peace.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The recording, which does not capture what led up to the moment in which the video began, reportedly portrays an incident for which Paul was arrested in 2023, according to TMZ.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
Orbán, who is trailing in opinion polls ahead of elections next month, has leaned heavily on an election campaign that portrays Zelenskyy as an existential threat to Hungary.
—Lorne Cook The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrays
Verb
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The post, shared by Reddit user No-Street-6651, describes a multi-stage interview process that included three rounds of interviews and a detailed six-page project for a marketing brand manager position.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Bourne is the chair of the Yolo County’s chapter of Moms for Liberty, a nonprofit that describes itself as advocating for parental rights.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Other weirdness characterizes the city’s plan beginning with the decision to put a tourism agency, Choose Chicago, in charge.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Even preschoolers there are taught to spot the online disinformation that characterizes 21st-century hybrid warfare.—
Liam Denning,
Bloomberg,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Herzog depicts the bushmen who aid Boyes as dignified, diligent and intelligent without romanticizing them while capturing the rugged beauty of the African landscape.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
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Directed by Nagai Akira and starring Sato Jiro and Yamada Yuki, the film depicts a high-stakes interrogation involving a man who claims to have visions of bomb explosions.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hsu plays Joy, a morose daughter of two Chinese immigrants.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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When the Heat plays Herro and Powell together, Miami has been outscored by 26 points in 249 minutes this season.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Following liftoff, the SLS rocket will place Orion into Earth orbit before the capsule performs a burn that sends the spacecraft toward the moon.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
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During the trial, the team collected real-world data to evaluate how quantum positioning performs in a live national rail network.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, your brain only interprets it through information collected by cells in your eye’s retinas called cones.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
25 Mar. 2026
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Instead of depending on symmetry, the robot continuously interprets signals from the remaining sensor and adjusts its movement accordingly.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their entry into the conflict represents an escalation that could further destabilize the region and global markets, observers note.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Recognized among RealTrends America’s Best Real Estate Teams, Wright represents distinguished properties in Frisco and Dallas-Fort Worth.—
Judi Wright,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrays. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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