1
as in to describe
to give a representation or account of in words
the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
traditionally, European authors portrayed the natives as wise and noble
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3
as in to depict
to present a picture of
a landscape that portrays the scenery near the town where the painter grew up
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4
as in to play
to present a portrayal or performance of
gained fame portraying Susan B. Anthony in a one-woman show
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of portray
What To Know While often portrayed as a boost to the fossil fuel industry, some argue that recent measures under Trump's administration could also streamline the development of clean energy technologies, particularly nuclear power.
—
Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Three performers have been chosen to portray Parton at various periods throughout her life, but the results of a global search for the actors have yet to be revealed.
—Stephen L. Betts, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
The big picture: Zeldin sought to portray his record as bipartisan, touting his work with Democrats on PFAS chemicals, ocean cleanup, and the Great American Outdoors Act as well as his membership in the Climate Solutions Caucus while in the House.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025
Chalamet recently portrayed Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, the biopic directed by James Mangold, and performed all of his own vocals in the film.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for portray 
Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Three performers have been chosen to portray Parton at various periods throughout her life, but the results of a global search for the actors have yet to be revealed.
—Stephen L. Betts, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
The big picture: Zeldin sought to portray his record as bipartisan, touting his work with Democrats on PFAS chemicals, ocean cleanup, and the Great American Outdoors Act as well as his membership in the Climate Solutions Caucus while in the House.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025
Chalamet recently portrayed Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, the biopic directed by James Mangold, and performed all of his own vocals in the film.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for portray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portray
Verb
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Green described him as having a winning (expletive) pedigree.—
Danny Emerman,
The Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2025
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She is described as White, standing 5 feet, 9 inches and weighs 186 lbs.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Then came the gravity-defying blow dry, characterized by swinging ends and reflective shine.—
Morgan Fargo,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2025
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Read More: What Happened the Last Time Trump Withdrew From the Paris Agreement Trump also made a move to curtail offshore wind development, which the blueprint characterized as part of an agenda that would close off large sections of the ocean to commercial activity.—
Nik Popli,
TIME,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Marson’s 1932 play, At What a Price, depicts a young Black woman from the Jamaican countryside who moves to Kingston and takes a job as a stenographer.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2025
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Moreover, Mobile isn’t depicted as a backward town.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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One of the greatest of all time to play the position, one of the greatest players of all time.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
The Athletic,
28 Jan. 2025
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Two years ago, the Eagles and the Chiefs faced off in Super Bowl LVII where Kansas City dramatically won on a field goal with eight seconds to play.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The trios were tasked with developing three desserts that would represent their country: a frozen dessert, a restaurant dessert — which can have a special garnish added at the judging table — and a show chocolate.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN,
27 Jan. 2025
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Raising Voices Still a Necessity for Disabled The idea that nearly 30 percent of Americans are underrepresented in films — or represented only in terms of their disability — should alert studios whose projects struggle to find audiences.—
Randee Dawn,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Academy may well have made significant progress in reforming itself to be more inclusive; several presenters took care to note the 13,000 voting members who chose the winners (and The Weeknd broke his years-long boycott of the Grammys to perform this time).—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2025
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Salas-Lozano was indicted in April 2023 in connection with the July 2, 2021 encounter at the hospital, where he and the victim, a woman, were contracted to perform janitorial services.—
Robert Salonga,
The Mercury News,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The full text of the Title IX law is just 37 words long, but the federal government has added rules over the years explaining how it’s interpreted.—
Collin Binkley,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2025
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The process, called subjective refraction, involves the patient comparing lens options while their eye's focusing system and brain interpret the clarity of each one.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Skin scents simply don’t challenge me the way more complex creations do.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
4 Feb. 2025
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Are there still any obvious gaps in the team? Leicester could have really done with a new, commanding central defender.—
Rob Tanner,
The Athletic,
4 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Portray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portray. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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