1
as in describing
to give a representation or account of in words
the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in characterizing
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group
traditionally, European authors portrayed the natives as wise and noble
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in depicting
to present a picture of
a landscape that portrays the scenery near the town where the painter grew up
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in playing
to present a portrayal or performance of
gained fame portraying Susan B. Anthony in a one-woman show
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portraying
The messages show discussions not only of removing Moïse from power but also of portraying the operation, after the fact, as the execution of a legal arrest warrant, even as the squad of Colombian commandos entered his residence.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
The inaugural lineup will include a range of thematic galleries, beginning with exhibitions focused on architecture and the design influences behind the museum, as well as works by American painter Thomas Hart Benton portraying scenes of everyday life.
—City News Service, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The experience of portraying Creasy is one that the actor looks back on with fondness.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
The film stars renegade country singer Elizabeth Cook as a fictionalized version of herself, portraying an artist navigating midlife while contending with an industry that has never fully embraced her.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
Naturally, Brody feels a great responsibility and weight in portraying Yarris, 64, who has come to see the show multiple times.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Most challengingly, thousands of extras portraying the Persian-Sasanian army were brought in from Georgia.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Jon Berthnal is portraying the character.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Ann Jillian went from a Disney child star to a '80s sitcom favorite, even portraying her own battle with cancer on screen.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
The inaugural lineup will include a range of thematic galleries, beginning with exhibitions focused on architecture and the design influences behind the museum, as well as works by American painter Thomas Hart Benton portraying scenes of everyday life.
—City News Service, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The experience of portraying Creasy is one that the actor looks back on with fondness.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
The film stars renegade country singer Elizabeth Cook as a fictionalized version of herself, portraying an artist navigating midlife while contending with an industry that has never fully embraced her.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
Naturally, Brody feels a great responsibility and weight in portraying Yarris, 64, who has come to see the show multiple times.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Most challengingly, thousands of extras portraying the Persian-Sasanian army were brought in from Georgia.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Jon Berthnal is portraying the character.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Ann Jillian went from a Disney child star to a '80s sitcom favorite, even portraying her own battle with cancer on screen.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portraying
Verb
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When describing his overall plan for ELL and emergent bilingual learning after staff cuts, Licata said those resources are not being spent in the right directions for students.—
Samuel O’Neal
Updated April 29,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2026
-
What the note was describing lay outside the perimeter.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But those infractions do not justify characterizing an entire category of services that helps tens of millions of Americans remain in their homes as rife with fraud and in need of dramatic changes.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The author portrays Huntington Beach’s conservative leadership as opportunistic political actors seeking to weaponize local grievances for statewide power, characterizing their efforts to expand influence as built on cultural controversies rather than substantive governance achievements.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
More recently, Trump’s Truth Social account shared a racist video depicting the Obamas as apes.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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An athlete would be prevented from depicting their high school or using its facilities or property in their NIL.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
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As the Ado Annie-like Betsy, a horny teen-ager whose father owns a shotgun, Kurtz is playing a character who should be, and kind of is, a one-joke punch line.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
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Twin sisters Jordan and Jaedyn Gomez, playing for Boone, lost their second round individual bracket doubles match 6-0, 6-0 against Doral Academy’s top seeded duo of Payton Seidle-Lubowitz and Stefany Zamora.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That all changed after the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing rank-and-file officers, dropped more than $400,000 on ads targeting Raman, who was elected to the council twice with support from Democratic Socialists of America, which isn’t endorsing in the mayoral primary.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
Unions representing about 2,000 pilots, 5,500 flight attendants, mechanics and other employees laid off by Spirit called on its leadership and the government to ensure workers receive the compensation and benefits they are owed.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The company was originally tapped to fly six operational crew rotation flights after performing both of its uncrewed and crewed test flights successfully.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
Buffett has long encouraged investors to pay more attention to the company's operating earnings that exclude investments to get a better idea of how its companies are performing.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Millions looked on as Britain's future king and queen wed on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, defining a new era for the monarchy.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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The soft, sunny color is the perfect hue to transition into the warmer months, and Kristi Patterson, founder and principal designer at Grace Hill Design, says yellow is emerging as the defining color of the season.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When interpreting known brands, his first mission is authenticity.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
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This long-term evolution culminated in the training of an algorithm capable of accurately interpreting and recognizing complex patterns of electrical pulses within the system.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portraying. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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