1
as in describes
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of portrays
Lenz portrays Rebecca Clarke, a recent widow who travels with her 11-year-old daughter Sarah (Morgan) to the Western Canadian frontier to escape a threat back home and make a fresh start following her husband’s death.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 May 2026
Sessa stars alongside Emilia Jones, who plays a former high school acquaintance, as well as Dagmara Domińczyk, Rich Sommer, comedian Stavros Halkias, Leo Woodall, and Antonio Banderas, who portrays the chef at the restaurant where Bourdain finds work.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 5 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
Through lengthy monologues, intense fight sequences, and the relentless malleability of both his body and voice, Brody vividly portrays Yarris from a small child to a middle-aged man.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
In the early scenes, the film portrays Nuremberg from the sky, the streets and steeples emerging from the clouds.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s real-life nephew, portrays Michael Jackson in his acting debut, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long as parents, Joe and Katherine.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 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
Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 May 2026
Sessa stars alongside Emilia Jones, who plays a former high school acquaintance, as well as Dagmara Domińczyk, Rich Sommer, comedian Stavros Halkias, Leo Woodall, and Antonio Banderas, who portrays the chef at the restaurant where Bourdain finds work.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 5 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
Through lengthy monologues, intense fight sequences, and the relentless malleability of both his body and voice, Brody vividly portrays Yarris from a small child to a middle-aged man.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
In the early scenes, the film portrays Nuremberg from the sky, the streets and steeples emerging from the clouds.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s real-life nephew, portrays Michael Jackson in his acting debut, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long as parents, Joe and Katherine.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrays
Verb
-
The new study used daily imagery, a change Seto describes like turning on a movie camera.—
Bree Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
The plea agreement describes those as potential immigration consequences.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
While the Journal characterizes the loss of funding as a death knell for the organization, LIV officials have been quick to point out that the league has been increasing its revenue this year.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
But no such device exists for the way Trump characterizes it — at least not when math is done correctly.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Matt Damon plays a Navy admiral in a submarine, who’s getting updates from his team on a terrifying creature in the murky waters.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
10 May 2026
-
The only loss in that streak was against The Academy of Central Florida — which plays outside the FHSAA.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Proper egg storage is the difference between an ingredient that performs beautifully and one that poses a genuine food safety risk.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
-
George Clinton performs onstage at the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame gala held at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles on May 8.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
This distribution represents 6% year-over-year growth.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
-
The article suggests the expansive field represents a meaningful shift in political power from the historically dominant San Francisco Bay Area to Southern California, reflecting broader changes in the state’s political landscape.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrays. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
