1
as in drawings
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in portraits
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in traces
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in describes
to give a representation or account of in words
briefly sketched the intent of the reorganization plan
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 sketches
Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
Purchased largely via auction houses, the collection spans centuries and continents and comprises all types of works, from sculptures to sketches and oil paintings.
—AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2025
The exhibit is the first comprehensive exploration of Katz’s collaborations with choreographers, dancers and members of avant-garde theater ensembles over six decades, showcasing rare archival materials, major sets and paintings and previously unexhibited sketches.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025
It was based on sketches of the famous battle by Theodore Davis.
—Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Dec. 2025
The comedian had been playing Carson in similar sketches since the late 1980s.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Unlike the show’s first two hosts, George Carlin and Paul Simon, Reiner fully participated in sketches throughout the episode, helping establish the host-as-performer format that would become central to SNL’s structure.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025
In one of his last sketches, Bowen Yang plays a Delta Sky Club employee who is clocking into his last shift.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
Lodged between musical numbers, the comics, Imogene Coca among them, did six sketches, having already discarded dozens of ideas earlier in the week.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
But at the same time, Hale sketches out a clear vision for Oura’s future that relies on institutions tapping the tech company for deeper insights into population metrics.
—Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
Newman sketches out the basic details of her emergence as a self-care guru.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Nov. 2025
Marc Davis sketches that influenced the very first attractions in California.
—Lindsay Kimble, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Some Saturday Night Live sketches bomb and others become Hall of Famers.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Building a following through viral TikTok and Instagram sketches with the Webby Award–winning group American High Shorts, Healy has opened for Trevor Wallace, Todd Barry, and Sean Patton, and was recently named a Creator to Watch as part of the 2025 New York Comedy Festival.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
The strategy sketches out three main scenarios, with a blueprint and timetable for each.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Innovation sketches the blueprint of what is possible.
—Aman Gupta, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
As a result, there were always several sketches that might not make it into the broadcast.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
Purchased largely via auction houses, the collection spans centuries and continents and comprises all types of works, from sculptures to sketches and oil paintings.
—AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2025
The exhibit is the first comprehensive exploration of Katz’s collaborations with choreographers, dancers and members of avant-garde theater ensembles over six decades, showcasing rare archival materials, major sets and paintings and previously unexhibited sketches.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025
It was based on sketches of the famous battle by Theodore Davis.
—Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Dec. 2025
The comedian had been playing Carson in similar sketches since the late 1980s.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Unlike the show’s first two hosts, George Carlin and Paul Simon, Reiner fully participated in sketches throughout the episode, helping establish the host-as-performer format that would become central to SNL’s structure.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025
In one of his last sketches, Bowen Yang plays a Delta Sky Club employee who is clocking into his last shift.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
Lodged between musical numbers, the comics, Imogene Coca among them, did six sketches, having already discarded dozens of ideas earlier in the week.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
Drawing on his own diaries and Said’s unpublished letters and manuscripts, Hovsepian sketches both the portrait of a friendship and an intellectual biography.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
But at the same time, Hale sketches out a clear vision for Oura’s future that relies on institutions tapping the tech company for deeper insights into population metrics.
—Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
Newman sketches out the basic details of her emergence as a self-care guru.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Nov. 2025
Marc Davis sketches that influenced the very first attractions in California.
—Lindsay Kimble, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Some Saturday Night Live sketches bomb and others become Hall of Famers.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Building a following through viral TikTok and Instagram sketches with the Webby Award–winning group American High Shorts, Healy has opened for Trevor Wallace, Todd Barry, and Sean Patton, and was recently named a Creator to Watch as part of the 2025 New York Comedy Festival.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
The strategy sketches out three main scenarios, with a blueprint and timetable for each.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Innovation sketches the blueprint of what is possible.
—Aman Gupta, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sketches
Noun
-
The film’s stylized, childlike drawings not only reflect Giuseppe’s highly mutable nature, but also his innocence and naiveté as well.—
Kambole Campbell,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.—
Jordan Kellogg,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
When Delcy Rodríguez chaired her first council of ministers meeting as the acting president of Venezuela on Sunday, the portraits of the two leaders who preceded her loomed on the wall behind her.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
5 Jan. 2026
-
In addition to serving Hollywood, Williams was the owner of namesake Dean Williams Photography, which specialized in professional portraits, weddings and events.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The former first lady is currently promoting her latest book The Look, which traces her sartorial journey since entering the public eye.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The play traces Chaudhuri’s family history from the Trail of Tears to her grandfather’s allotment in central Oklahoma.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Lopez describes her daughter as an energetic, talkative child who speaks both English and Spanish.—
Leondra Head,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Among the more moving cases that Blair describes are those of people who in life were vulnerable and powerless but in death were considered formidable threats.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The movement is considered a response to the ever-present and growing sense of alienation among people, as well as a rejection of the traditional depictions of everyday life in Eastern Europe.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Pormanove, 46, was also known online for completing extreme challenges on livestreams, and his death drew public scrutiny for — and an investigation by French authorities into — the streaming platform Kick for allowing creators to share videos that include depictions of physical and verbal abuse.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
All venues are equipped with accessibility measures including audio descriptions, sign language interpretation and multilingual dubbing.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Midwinter Day was a rageful response inspired by Ulysses in its epic descriptions of the quotidian.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The bill outlines several key obligations aimed at protecting children and holding companies accountable for harmful interactions.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The suit, filed in Los Angeles Federal Court on Tuesday and reviewed by Variety, outlines a pattern of contract violations and misconduct regarding profit sharing, among other claims.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Mekia Cox, who portrays Nyla Harper, wed basketball analyst Britt Leach in 2018, according to The Knot.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Arnett, Cooper, and Mark Chappell cowrote the screenplay, and Cooper portrays Balls, Alex's actor friend who serves as the film's comic relief.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sketches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sketches. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share