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sketch 1 of 2

noun

ˈskech How to pronounce sketch (audio)
Definition of sketchnext
1
as in drawing
a picture using lines to represent the chief features of an object or scene made a quick sketch from which she would create a more detailed painting later

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2
as in portrait
a vivid representation in words of someone or something gave her boss quick sketches of the personalities of the clients he was about to meet

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sketch

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to trace
to draw or make apparent the outline of sketched the garden pavilion on a pad of paper so the homeowners would have a rough idea of how it was going to look

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2
as in to describe
to give a representation or account of in words briefly sketched the intent of the reorganization plan

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sketch
Noun
Some historians point to one of Leonardo’s sketches from about the same time that show a David-like nude with a leaf over its groin, arguing that Leonardo wanted Michelangelo’s masterpiece modestly concealed. — Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026 Known for his high-energy stand-up performances, original characters, and viral comedy sketches, McCartney has built an audience of more than 10 million followers across social media. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
Colbert also made a virtual appearance last week to accept the award for outstanding achievement in variety, talk or sketch from the Television Critics Association Awards. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 Admittedly, Mitchell is fairly creative in sketching the run-up to the dinosaur takeover, which includes ominous signs such as long-extinct plant life taking root overnight. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sketch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sketch
  1. drawing
  2. portrait
  3. trace
  4. describe
  5. illustration
  6. description
  7. outline
  8. portray
Noun
  • Not only did the client and architect scale back the building’s height based on the events in New York, but also, the drawings for that scheme were never publicly released.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But, even more specifically, the story is in dialogue with the British artist David Austen’s minimal and piercing drawings.
    — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of drawing
Noun
  • Pretenders, the portrait of this first-ballot frontwoman’s venerable punk outfit that just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, gives you a possible answer pretty quickly.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
  • For the first time, Zvyagintsev made a movie outside of Russia, moving Minotaur’s production to Latvia to stand in for a brutally frank portrait of his homeland at the dawn of the Ukraine war.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of portrait
Verb
  • Teams should trace root causes, fix the control failures that enabled the path, and retest to prove the attacker’s route is actually gone.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • No one had done this thorough a job to trace the legend’s origins and find out what is true and what is demonstrably false about it — and, more importantly, why the damn thing has outlasted nearly every other gossip item in the history of Hollywood.
    — Allen Salkin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of trace
Verb
  • The optics are also described as being resistant to fast-moving fluids and particles, as well as to many chemicals.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • For now, the court record describes a shipment declared as storage boxes, coolers and a chair that federal agents say instead contained firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and an assortment of unfinished receivers and other gun parts.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of describe
Noun
  • Its collection deliberately defies conventional boundaries between fine and popular art, placing painting and sculpture alongside illustration, comics, photography, and cinema.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • MasterCard and Visa cards are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on March 29, 2024.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of illustration
Noun
  • The stacked bob, per salon owner Francine Gersting’s previous description, is a contemporary version of the classic chin-length cut.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Not a description a police sketch artist could get much out of, but useful enough.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of description
Verb
  • The memo cited a Law Department estimate of about 35,000 potential plaintiffs — roughly 10,000 of whom were expected to file claims — as a result of the September 11 attacks and outlined legislative options to limit the city’s legal liability.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Rather than simply predicting a doomsday plot, the main purpose of this release is to outline a pathway with the necessary steps to set things on the right track.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of outline
Verb
  • The AfD also aims to segregate refugees and disabled children in schools and rework the curriculum to portray a more positive view of Germany's history.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
  • There’s a lot more to Love Love’s not the only one to break hearts and portray himself as a professional athlete.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of portray

Browse Nearby Words

skeptics
sketch
sketched
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Cite this Entry

“Sketch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sketch. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sketch

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sketch

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