1
as in describes
to give a representation or account of in words
the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness
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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
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3
as in depicts
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 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
In contrast to the article’s portrait of a formless contest, recent polling portrays a race that is becoming more structured.
—
Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Potts — who portrays Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's infamous Meemaw — has been married to director and producer James Hayman since 1990 after having met on the set of the 1992 film Breaking the Rules.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Molly Shannon portrays Lonnie’s foul-mouthed ex-wife Stacy, along with Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Luke Wilson, Chris Parnell, Katelyn Tarver and David Hornsby.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 May 2026
One Raffensperger television advertisement portrays Jones and Jackson firing guns wildly into the air while Raffensperger takes careful aim at targets one by one.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
For the cover of the May 11 & 18, 2026, special issue, themed around America’s 250th birthday, the cartoonist Barry Blitt portrays George Washington, the country’s first President, caught in the spirit of the moment.
—Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
As Alamo’s right-hand man, Darrell Britt-Gibson portrays Bishop with a lurking, enigmatic energy that personifies danger and can put the fear of God into anyone who dares challenge his boss.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
But the story never leaves us with a sense that anything is incomplete, as Shear eloquently portrays the ways that near-misses can still feel like cataclysmic life events.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Mar. 2025
The actress that portrays Vanessa, Lauren Buglioli, has been working steadily since the mid-2010s, with guest appearances on series like FBI and the Dynasty reboot (which also featured Goings), and films like Jessica Lange's The Great Lillian Hall and the horror anthology film Horror Noire.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Potts — who portrays Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's infamous Meemaw — has been married to director and producer James Hayman since 1990 after having met on the set of the 1992 film Breaking the Rules.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Molly Shannon portrays Lonnie’s foul-mouthed ex-wife Stacy, along with Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Luke Wilson, Chris Parnell, Katelyn Tarver and David Hornsby.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 May 2026
One Raffensperger television advertisement portrays Jones and Jackson firing guns wildly into the air while Raffensperger takes careful aim at targets one by one.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
For the cover of the May 11 & 18, 2026, special issue, themed around America’s 250th birthday, the cartoonist Barry Blitt portrays George Washington, the country’s first President, caught in the spirit of the moment.
—Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
As Alamo’s right-hand man, Darrell Britt-Gibson portrays Bishop with a lurking, enigmatic energy that personifies danger and can put the fear of God into anyone who dares challenge his boss.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
But the story never leaves us with a sense that anything is incomplete, as Shear eloquently portrays the ways that near-misses can still feel like cataclysmic life events.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Mar. 2025
The actress that portrays Vanessa, Lauren Buglioli, has been working steadily since the mid-2010s, with guest appearances on series like FBI and the Dynasty reboot (which also featured Goings), and films like Jessica Lange's The Great Lillian Hall and the horror anthology film Horror Noire.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrays
Verb
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In an interview with the website Public Parking, the writer Lucy Ives describes ad-libbing a writing exercise to kill an awkward classroom silence.—
David O’Neill,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
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Crain describes the situation as a broader pattern, arguing that the city has favored new development over maintaining historic and cultural sites.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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In the past couple of decades, however, Czernowin has deëmphasized the frantic gesturing that characterizes so much latter-day modernism.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Wilson’s approach to public life clearly has an element of what professional wrestlers call kayfabe—the winking, performative trollishness that now characterizes the online right.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Benjamin Franklin, who was 81 at the time of the Constitutional Convention, which the statue depicts, felt old to her; the fine lines on his forehead gave it away.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
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The episode, co-written by series stars Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, depicts a day Michael and Richie spent together.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Fans serenaded Saiss, who now plays for Qatari side Al Sadd, and showed their appreciation for Jimenez throughout the game on Sunday, even when the Mexico international was simply warming up before his second-half introduction.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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And apologies to Pedro Pascal (who plays the Mandalorian), but his costar tends to steal every scene.—
Tracy Smith,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The tests are intended to evaluate how the product performs across a range of soils, climates, and agricultural conditions.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
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Balibar, who has worked with Arnaud Desplechin, Mathieu Amalric, Olivier Assayas and Jacques Rivette, and also performs as a singer and stage actor, rounds out the principal cast.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The jazz quartet interprets the work of Thelonious Monk, expanding classic compositions into absorbing experimental journeys that stretch beyond free jazz.—
Levi Dayan,
Pitchfork,
11 May 2026
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Devin Archer richly interprets Emile’s romantic ballads, French accent and all, while Cindy Chang brings some honest dignity to Bloody Mary and Anthony Maggio’s Cabel goes far beyond the standard-issue tenor.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The album’s closing song, a roots-rock reggae number with Sting on the chorus, represents the thirty-year evolution of Shaggy’s career.—
Natalie Meade,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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The game’s newest major champion represents a refreshing and unchanging sense of self, bred by memories like those back in Wolverhampton, England.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrays. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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