silhouettes 1 of 2

noun

plural of silhouette
as in outlines
a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface cartoonists often try to give their characters recognizable silhouettes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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silhouettes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of silhouette
as in traces
to draw or make apparent the outline of in the photograph the majestic mountain is strikingly silhouetted against the setting sun

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 silhouettes
Noun
Two signature footwear silhouettes are at the center of the collection. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026 But this time around, consider swapping your basic crewneck silhouettes for something a little more polished and fashion-forward, like a funnelneck sweater. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2026 Surfaces glow with darting light, the beehive smoke and silhouettes and flickering neon lulls the viewer to a state conducive to such pondering. — Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026 From there, the women’s line continued to evolve alongside advances in fabric technology and shifting style preferences, with new fits and silhouettes reflecting how women wear jeans today. — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026 For a welcoming feel, the property features cozy design elements like upholstered headboards, warm light fixtures, and classic furniture silhouettes. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 26 Oct. 2026 This fall, minimalist dressing is in the details and embracing fresh silhouettes. — Michel Mejía, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silhouettes
  1. outlines
  2. traces
  3. figures
  4. sketches
Noun
  • Sun’s piece mostly orbits a monochrome palette of heavy, inky black shading (with white outlines) and a lot of line detail, with broad, impressionistic brushstrokes characterizing the landscape — at least some of the time.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Johnson gazed at one of his own paintings, which hangs in the dark-red lounge and features outlines of houses.
    — Emma Allen, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of outlines
Verb
  • In six episodes, Cunk traces the history of the moving image and its impact on society and culture.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Nov. 2026
  • If true, the early afterglow hypothetically traces back to the jet’s wings, while the brightening X-ray phase came from the thin core.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of traces
Noun
  • There will be nonstop panels on TV and livestreams, analysts repeating analysis of days-old polls, and — come afternoon — figures from exit polls suggesting that Hispanics are voting in large numbers, or that the economy is a major issue.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • In fact, only 33 colleges and universities in the country admit 10% or fewer of their undergraduate applicants, NACAC figures show.
    — Jon Marcus, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of figures
Verb
  • Before the Ernst-May-Gesellschaft volunteers begin dismantling a kitchen, a photographer documents the interior with a fisheye lens while the team measures and sketches the room.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The flags couldn’t be redder, and Khoshnoudi nimbly sketches out the circuitous emotional paths S takes to avoid seeing them until such evasion suddenly and brutally becomes impossible.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of sketches

Browse Nearby Words

silhouetted
silhouettes
silhouetting
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Cite this Entry

“Silhouettes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silhouettes. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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