1
as in depicts
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 tells
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 characterizes
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
how would you describe the Inupiat people you encountered in Alaska?
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of describes
In an interview with the website Public Parking, the writer Lucy Ives describes ad-libbing a writing exercise to kill an awkward classroom silence.
—
David O’Neill, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Crain describes the situation as a broader pattern, arguing that the city has favored new development over maintaining historic and cultural sites.
—Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Barlow describes Highway 3213 as the kind of road that does not leave room for error.
—Edie Peffley, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Vlautin describes its protagonist, Al Ward, as a run-of-the-mill working musician who had a pretty good run before making some bad decisions.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 19 May 2026
New Orleans & Company describes the restaurant as a refined, elegant expression of Louisiana cooking rooted in Emeril Lagasse’s signature bold flavors.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Young, who now describes himself as a pop artist, began his career as a rapper but later began to diversify his sound, blending genres and styles.
—Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
As explained in a 1985 issue of Better Homes & Gardens, cream puff batter that bakes like a popover best describes Nun's Puffs.
—Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2026
The plea agreement describes those as potential immigration consequences.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2026
David O’Neill, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Crain describes the situation as a broader pattern, arguing that the city has favored new development over maintaining historic and cultural sites.
—Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Barlow describes Highway 3213 as the kind of road that does not leave room for error.
—Edie Peffley, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Vlautin describes its protagonist, Al Ward, as a run-of-the-mill working musician who had a pretty good run before making some bad decisions.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 19 May 2026
New Orleans & Company describes the restaurant as a refined, elegant expression of Louisiana cooking rooted in Emeril Lagasse’s signature bold flavors.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Young, who now describes himself as a pop artist, began his career as a rapper but later began to diversify his sound, blending genres and styles.
—Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
As explained in a 1985 issue of Better Homes & Gardens, cream puff batter that bakes like a popover best describes Nun's Puffs.
—Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2026
The plea agreement describes those as potential immigration consequences.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for describes
Verb
-
The nine-foot-tall statue depicts the discussion between quarterback Nick Foles and head coach Doug Pederson at Super Bowl LII, ahead of tight end Trey Burton throwing a touchdown pass to Foles.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Ballard depicts a postapocalyptic future in which global warming has rendered much of the planet uninhabitable.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
In it, Martin, who is curating the show, tells Elmo of the significance of the performance — and gets some help choosing the performers.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
-
Turner tells him the story is already filed with the press.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
In the past couple of decades, however, Czernowin has deëmphasized the frantic gesturing that characterizes so much latter-day modernism.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Wilson’s approach to public life clearly has an element of what professional wrestlers call kayfabe—the winking, performative trollishness that now characterizes the online right.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
In contrast to the article’s portrait of a formless contest, recent polling portrays a race that is becoming more structured.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
-
Potts — who portrays Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's infamous Meemaw — has been married to director and producer James Hayman since 1990 after having met on the set of the 1992 film Breaking the Rules.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
In an interview with VF Italia, the head of the Global Epidemic Intelligence and Health Security Section at the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control recounts the initial measures taken by the doctor who boarded the cruise ship to deal with the emergency.—
Alice Politi,
Vanity Fair,
12 May 2026
-
The docuseries, which recounts a woman’s experience after her husband admits to murder, built up 8M views for the week.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The villas were restored and updated, Conrad Orlando was introduced as the luxury hotel anchor, and Evermore Bay (the lagoon beach that now defines the property) was built from scratch.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
-
These portraits are not only about style, but about perspective, identity, and the confidence that defines the Misela individual.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Instability in several of the world’s most important energy suppliers illustrates how quickly geopolitical crises can ripple through global markets.—
Yu Jie,
Time,
13 May 2026
-
Greene’s experience illustrates a broader challenge.—
Davi Jacobs,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
McQuail relates social constructionism’s influences on media studies first to the theories of propaganda and ideology and second to critical theory.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 May 2026
-
Bastian relates that Delta collected $9 billion, more than four times the number in 2014, and though Amex doesn’t break out its revenues from the co-brand, the Delta experience suggests it’s scored a moonshot.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Describes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/describes. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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