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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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
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
Táta Vega portrays Ollie’s Grandma, but viewers might recognize her voice from the Oscar-winning documentary, 20 Feet from Stardom.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Robert Carlyle portrays Jack Ruby, the chameleon associate of organized crime and Jefferson White is playing Lee Harvey Oswald, the patsy that was set up by The Outfit.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 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
The book portrays the city as a liminal metropolis where the line demarcating business and crime has been worn faint by heavy footfall from both directions.
—Mark O’Connell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Táta Vega portrays Ollie’s Grandma, but viewers might recognize her voice from the Oscar-winning documentary, 20 Feet from Stardom.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Robert Carlyle portrays Jack Ruby, the chameleon associate of organized crime and Jefferson White is playing Lee Harvey Oswald, the patsy that was set up by The Outfit.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 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
The book portrays the city as a liminal metropolis where the line demarcating business and crime has been worn faint by heavy footfall from both directions.
—Mark O’Connell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrays
Verb
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And that describes this Panthers offense to a tee.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
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The geological formation has been studied for decades, and that long record of scientific interest shapes how the company describes its role.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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The author characterizes Huntington Beach itself as an inherently self-aggrandizing, wealthy coastal enclave unrepresentative of broader California concerns, dismissing the notion that this affluent beach town should serve as a model for statewide governance or the state’s future direction.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That begins with a reasonably effective prologue that depicts the fall of her childhood home, Edenia, and gives Kitana’s origin a more solid foundation than any of her cast mates.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
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If The House is Burning captured the joie de vivre of reclaiming your life after years of disassociation and detachment, IT’S BEEN AWFUL depicts the excruciating process of living with your eyes wide open, of holding up the mirror to your face and not looking away.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
Verb
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AlegrĂa directed half of the show’s eight episodes; Urrejola plays the key character of Blanca.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
4 May 2026
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The addition of the guest play-callers, Close and women’s water polo coach Adam Wright, led to a variety of trick plays throughout the game.—
Sean Campbell,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Verb
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The agent performs investigations related to criminal activity committed by licensed premises.—
Angela Rodriguez
May 3,
Sacbee.com,
3 May 2026
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Wishbone flower performs well in gardens, containers, and hanging baskets.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
Verb
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In an oppositional reading, the reader understands the dominant ideology expressed in the text but rejects it and interprets the text in an alternative way.—
Shepherd Mpofu,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
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Like personal numerology, address numerology interprets the numbers in your address to uncover the vibrations of your living environment.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Andrews’ success as a transplant patient represents a decades-long American journey, one of many USA TODAY is profiling as part of its coverage of the United States' 250th anniversary year.—
Karen Weintraub,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
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Amendment 4, however, represents the most expansive attempt to weaken it in recent memory.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrays. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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