1
as in describes
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
how would you characterize the mission of this environmental organization?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in distinguishes
to be an important feature of
an unsightly rash characterizes chicken pox
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 characterizes
What is a greater hit against a presidential administration that characterizes itself as the party of family values than marrying two people in love on stage?
—
Taylor Crumpton, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
The author argues this economic leverage represents the only meaningful way to hold the country accountable for what the author characterizes as federal overreach.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
After his almost one-year hiatus, the Puerto Rican artist makes his comeback with a suave Afrobeats that evokes romanticism and desire—a shift from the flirty reggaetón sound that best characterizes him.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2026
However, no one has been executed in South Korea since 1997, and leniency characterizes appeals results.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Trump’s domestic political gift is the feral instinct for weakness that characterizes most authoritarians.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Thankfully, after expending serious overtime up front, the design crew lightened its hand over the rest of the truck, which remains a stout, sturdy pickup without the over-accentuation that characterizes the new US-market Tundra and Tacoma.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
As a coach, Armas, 53, characterizes himself as patient but demanding.
—Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2026
Coach has never been one to miss an opportunity for self-aggrandizement, and this quote effectively characterizes his three previous Survivor appearances not as failures but as bold attempts to tame a raging sea.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Taylor Crumpton, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
The author argues this economic leverage represents the only meaningful way to hold the country accountable for what the author characterizes as federal overreach.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
After his almost one-year hiatus, the Puerto Rican artist makes his comeback with a suave Afrobeats that evokes romanticism and desire—a shift from the flirty reggaetón sound that best characterizes him.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2026
However, no one has been executed in South Korea since 1997, and leniency characterizes appeals results.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Trump’s domestic political gift is the feral instinct for weakness that characterizes most authoritarians.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Thankfully, after expending serious overtime up front, the design crew lightened its hand over the rest of the truck, which remains a stout, sturdy pickup without the over-accentuation that characterizes the new US-market Tundra and Tacoma.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
As a coach, Armas, 53, characterizes himself as patient but demanding.
—Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2026
Coach has never been one to miss an opportunity for self-aggrandizement, and this quote effectively characterizes his three previous Survivor appearances not as failures but as bold attempts to tame a raging sea.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterizes
Verb
-
Frankenstein is nominated for nine Oscars, the bulk of which highlight its decadent design, all rooted in the kind of deep, immersive research that Deverell describes.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In a Federal Communications Commission application, SpaceX describes how the centers would transmit the data via optical, or laser, signals to the Starlink network for transmission to the ground while the entire system is in a low orbit roughly 300 miles to 1,200 miles above Earth.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That alone distinguishes Bienvenu’s take on a futuristic reality from most sci-fi narratives, which often occur in sleek, cold labs, desolate planets, or intricate spaceships floating in the vastness of space.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
-
What distinguishes outbreaks in detention from those in the broader community is not just risk, but power.—
Krutika Kuppalli,
STAT,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Famine report portrays a grim picture In recent months, Kordofan has become a flashpoint in the war and the army managed to break the RSF siege of two major cities in the region earlier this year.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Famine report portrays a grim picture In recent months, Kordofan has become a tinderbox in the war, and the army managed to break the RSF siege of two major cities in the region earlier this year.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The legislation defines crimes such as bank robberies and the use of violence to dominate territories or economic activities, with sentences reaching up to 66 years.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
-
That calculation, Israeli analysts say, defines the red line.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Characterizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/characterizes. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
