1
as in to depict
to give a representation or account of in words
he tried to describe the dream he had last night as accurately as he could
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to tell
to give an oral or written account of in some detail
a biography of Washington that describes the decisive Battle of Yorktown at great length
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
how would you describe the Inupiat people you encountered in Alaska?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of describe
Details of the injuries were not provided, though the zoo described them as minor.
—
Emma Caughlan, NBC news, 5 Apr. 2026
Almost none of it describes a policy.
—Stuart N. Brotman, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2026
After UConn built a 14-point lead midway through the second half, the Illini chipped away, going on what would be better described as a stroll than a run.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo missed an 11th straight game for what the Bucks have described as left knee hyperextension and bone bruise.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for describe
Emma Caughlan, NBC news, 5 Apr. 2026
Almost none of it describes a policy.
—Stuart N. Brotman, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2026
After UConn built a 14-point lead midway through the second half, the Illini chipped away, going on what would be better described as a stroll than a run.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo missed an 11th straight game for what the Bucks have described as left knee hyperextension and bone bruise.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for describe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for describe
Verb
-
One video pinned to his profile depicts him on a wild boar hunt, smoking a cigar.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The studded headpiece depicts the sacrifice of a lamb and is considered a national treasure.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bill Brown, Paragon Star’s chief operating officer, said at the time of the event, his group had been told the project was just a couple of weeks from being finished.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
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During the chase, an officer told Toledo to show his hands.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mandy Joye, an oceanographer specializing in microbiology at the University of Georgia, has spent decades characterizing microbes in hydrocarbon-rich habitats across the Gulf.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Democratic officials who led impeachment efforts against Noem characterized her removal as necessary due to her incompetence and mismanagement, focusing on her failure to execute her duties effectively rather than framing her dismissal within broader patterns.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The book portrays an authoritarian near-future Russia where most entertainment and all news comes through Cameras, people wired to transmit their experiences directly from their brains to the internet.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Fisher will portray the recurring role of Michael Jorie, a dangerous killer with a warped sense of righteousness and piety to his beliefs that fuel his involvement in a southwestern gang with a long history of violence.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During the men’s Euros in 2024, police forces reported 351 incidents of domestic abuse as being football-related.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
This album explores nothing less than the cycle of life, as related through changes of season.—
Brett Milano,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sound design—the particular timbre of a bass drum or a synth sweep—often defines the identity of a track.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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That shop, Orange County Drum & Percussion, better known as OCDP, would go on to define the look and sound of a generation of alternative rock drummers.—
Jeff Miller,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The war in Iran and bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz is further illustrating the need to integrate newer tools into modern warfare.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
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In the interview, Warsh illustrated this with a story from 2006, when he was nominated to the Fed’s Board of Governors and sought advice from former chair Paul Volcker.—
Paul Wachtel,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After the service at Kheimeh Molaghat, over coffee and sweets in the church fellowship hall, Bahraman recounted how armed Iranian forces raided the home of his parents about 15 years ago, because their family had converted to Christianity.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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John Mulaney’s Son Wanted to Meet Elvis Presley Mulaney opened up about the moment on the March 30 episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, recounting the scene with the kind of deadpan storytelling his fans know well.—
Ryan Brennan
April 3,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/describe. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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